Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MSP Alasdair Allan has called for a fair funding settlement for Bethesda Nursing Home and Hospice.

The islands MSP has been lobbying NHS Western Isles, the Western Isles Integrated Joint Board and the Scottish Government on the hospice’s behalf since March regarding the organisation’s funding shortfall.

Bethesda comprises of 21 Nursing Home beds for heavily dependent elderly, a 9 bedded Respite Unit and 4 single Hospice rooms where specialist care is given free of charge to anyone with an incurable disease at any stage of their illness.

Alasdair Allan commented:

“Over the course of the last week I have had many people in touch about the future of Bethesda.

“The work that Bethesda does in the community in terms of supporting those with full-time care needs, including those at the end of their lives and requiring palliative care, is absolutely invaluable. I believe we are lucky to have this service and that we cannot afford to lose it.

“It is clearly wrong that Bethesda have not had an uplift in support from the Health Board since 2011, and I am troubled about the effect of this underfunding to their finances. There is a pressing need for the IJB to enter into a new agreement with Bethesda which guarantees appropriate levels of funding. As local MSP, I will continue to do all that I can to ensure that they do.”