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Iona Grant, a 29-year-old woman with cerebral palsy, has found herself living in a care home nearly 100 miles from her home after her NHS-funded care package fell apart. Originally told that the move to the care home in Nairn would only be temporary, lasting a few weeks, it has now been close to five months since she was relocated. Iona had previously managed a relatively independent life in Fort William, relying on carers who visited her four times daily to assist with her needs. However, following a minor operation in October, she was informed that the required aftercare—two carers—could no longer be arranged in her home, prompting the abrupt move.
Iona describes the experience as being “chucked” into the facility with just five days’ notice, and despite the care home’s staff being “lovely,” she longs to return to her own home where she lived with more autonomy. “I was independent. I cooked my own food. I did my own shopping. I did whatever I needed to do,” she explained. She believes she is the youngest resident there and one of the few able to maintain a degree of independence. Communication from NHS Highland has been frustrating for her, with changing timelines communicated—from a few weeks to “until after Christmas,” then by email to around a month—only for nearly five months to elapse without resolution.
Iona’s family life has also been deeply affected during this period. Her father, Stewart Grant, who lives in Kinlochleven, about 22 miles from Fort William but over 100 miles from Nairn, faces challenges visiting her as he depends on public transportation. The separation has been painful, especially as Iona’s 14-year-old dog, Diesel, died while she was away, and she was unable to be with her pet in his last days. Stewart described the situation as “horrendous,” noting the absence of shared family milestones, including Christmas and birthdays, and the looming reality that Iona’s 30th birthday will also be spent apart.
NHS Highland has declined to comment on individual cases but stated it works closely with health and social care professionals, partner organizations, individuals, and families to provide appropriate care. The deputy first minister and local MSP for Skye, Lochaber, and Badenoch, Kate Forbes, has been involved since December and has engaged with NHS Highland to emphasize the urgency of arranging a suitable care package. “This issue has had a significant impact on Iona, and it is why I took immediate and urgent action with NHS Highland,” Forbes said, expressing disappointment that the situation remains unresolved. Meanwhile, Scottish Care, representing the independent social care sector, highlights that cases like Iona’s are becoming more common due to staffing and funding shortages, with their chief executive Donald Macaskill emphasizing the importance of supporting people to live independently within their communities
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