Highland care home residents ‘trapped’ by faulty lift that could take months to repair

A faulty lift has left residents at a Highland care home “trapped”, according to relatives.

The problem at the Moss Park facility, at Caol by Fort William, surfaced six weeks ago.

NHS Highland, which operates the 39-bed care home, has apologised but says it could be another eight to ten weeks before it is repaired.

It is not clear why the job will take so long.

A relative, who did not wish to be named, said she was seriously concerned about the safety of residents in the event of an emergency, fearing some were effectively “trapped”.

In a statement, the board said: “The lift is operational, although there are currently intermittent faults. Engineers are attending whenever issues arise, and work is ongoing to keep disruption to a minimum.

“We are pleased to confirm that a permanent repair has been approved and the replacement equipment has now been ordered. We expect the work to take around eight to ten weeks to complete.”

It added: “We appreciate that this situation has been worrying and frustrating for residents, families and staff, and we are very sorry for the disruption it is causing.

“Please be assured that the safety, well-being, and comfort of our residents remain our top priority.”

The board said “contingency arrangements” were in place, individual assessments are being regularly reviewed and that staff are working hard to support residents and help them stay connected with friends, family and activities.

NHS Highland took over the care home from private firm HC-One last year.