Forfar care home to close with loss of long-term and respite beds

Consideration will now be given to finding an alternative use for the building.

The move follows a seven-week consultation, which closed on January 7, as part of a county-wide review of services when doubt was cast on Beech Hill’s future along with Seaton Grove in Arbroath and Kinloch Care Home in Carnoustie.

The process also included various meetings with residents, families, carers, staff and trade unions, to seek their views and preferences.

The decision was taken at the last meeting of the Angus Integration Joint Board on the basis that elderly people are increasingly opting to be cared for at home.

Work will now begin on proposals that will see the eight long-term and eight beds withdrawn from Beech Hill House to be provided, along with respite services, by the independent sector at different premises.

A spokesperson for the Angus Health and Social Care Partnership said: “There is no doubt that the Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated what was already a clear direction of travel where people clearly exercise a preference towards care at home.

"Our older people are increasingly wanting to remain within their own homes as opposed to residential care. This led to the IJB decision in autumn 2021 to reduce its commissioning of Angus Health and Social Care Partnership care home beds by approximately 40 placements, including a reduction of up to 20 internal beds.

“This allows us to redirect and invest those resources into our care at home service where demand is greatest and into preventative work.

“We fully recognise that it is the eight long-term residents, their relatives and our staff that this decision has greatest impact on and it is their welfare that will be of utmost importance moving forward. They are all individuals in their own right and their individual needs and preferences will be fully considered.

“Every effort will be taken to ensure they are fully involved and informed throughout the process of finding alternative arrangements and accommodation. We want to ensure they are all fully supported and that any impact created by this move is kept to a minimum.”

Work will begin immediately to find suitable alternative employment for the Beech Hill workforce to ensure staff are retained and to avoid any redundancies.