Talks next week in bid to save specialist Edinburgh care home

Nicola Sturgeon has said Health Secretary Jeane Freeman will meet charity Sight Scotland next week over its plans to close its specialist care home in Edinburgh which currently looks after 31 blind and partially-sighted residents.

Braeside House care home has 31 residents

Braeside House care home in Liberton Brae is set to close within three months due to what the charity described as "unsustainable financial losses". A second home in Paisley will also shut.

Lothian Tory MSP Miles Briggs used First Minister's Questions to raise the issue, asking Ms Sturgeon what discussions had taken place with Sight Scotland about a package to save the homes and whether she would investigate potential support for the charity.

Ms Sturgeon said she had not been involved any discussions but Ms Freeman was due to meet the charity next week

She added: "I understand the concern that will be caused by the situation that Miles Briggs has outlined. I propose that the Health Secretary communicates directly with him, perhaps after that meeting with Sight Scotland, to give him a progress report."

Afterwards Mr Briggs welcomed the move and said he hoped a solution could be found to save the home.

He said: “I am concerned about what impact the proposed closure of Braeside House would have on service users.

“This is an excellent specialist sight loss care home and I will work hard to see what support can be provided.”

If no solution is found, the two homes are expected to close by April. Sight Scotland chief executive Mark O'Donnell has said the charity has been forced to delve into its own reserves during the pandemic.

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