The building structure of Budhmore Care Home on the Isle Of Skye: FOI release

Information requested

A) Any inspections to the building structure of Budhmore Care Home on the Isle Of Skye were sent or made available to The Scottish Government or The Health Secretary in the last 10 years?

B) If any concerns were sent to The Scottish Government or the Health Secretary from Crossreach or any third party on the building structure of Budhmore Care Home on the Isle Of Skye?

Response

Please find listed below a timeline of events where concerns related to the building structure of Budhmor Care Home were shared with Scottish Government. This information was collected from correspondence and records of verbal updates shared with Scottish Government by third parties and reflects their assessments of the building at the time.

Surveys received from:
May 2022 - DM Hall
June 2022 - Thomson Gray Constructions Consultants (puts costs at over £4.7m)
June 2022 - David Narro Associates
June 2022 - Indev Consult Engineering Solutions

24/3/22 - Care Inspectorate
The building is in a poor state of repair and Crossreach had originally planned to build a new care home on Skye. That plan goes back at least 5 years as the current building needs replaced.

24/3/22 - Verbal update shared by Crossreach
"Crossreach have been aware the property was not fit for purpose 5/6 years ago and had set aside funding to build a new purpose built facility"

28/3/22 - NHS Highland
Discussions have been ongoing with Crossreach over a number of years relating to the longevity of the current building.

Crossreach has significantly invested in maintenance and refurbishment costs but there is a shared view that the facility does not provide for the desired standard of accommodation and is not fit for purpose into the future.

The building condition has recently been reviewed by NHS Highland Estates colleagues who have indicated that significant further investment is required which would not be commensurate with the resulting ongoing suitability as a care home.

13/5/22 - Care Inspectorate
Care Inspectorate stated Care Home was found to be in a very poor state of repair.

16/5/22 - Verbal update shared by NHS Highland
“It seems Care Inspectorate were very shocked by the condition of the building although not been inspected since 2013”

18/5/22 - NHS Highland
A report commissioned by NHS Highland was received on 11/5/22. This was to provide a view on the building’s fitness for purpose/future. The report stated that the state of the building is a cause for significant concern therefore request for structural survey to be undertaken.

9/6/22 - NHS Highland
Highland commissioned its own structural, condition and timber survey.

Initial verbal update confirmed need for extensive and cost prohibitive works in order of £1m+.
Relocation of residents required for the period of any such works being undertaken.

14/6/22 - Care Inspectorate
Three surveys of the building have been completed. All three identified that significant repairs are required and that it would not be possible for people to remain living in the home while these repairs are undertaken. The degree of repairs needed is likely to mean that it will not be financially viable for these to be undertaken.

24/6/22 - NHS Highland
Structural, condition and timber surveys carried out to assess the state of the building have concluded that the building is considered safe for the provision of care at the moment, however the surveys have all identified that it is beyond economic repair and is at the end of its serviceable and maintainable lifespan. It would require significant work to refurbish to current care standards and it would not be appropriate for residents to remain there in the event of refurbishment.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.