Elderly residents of a much-loved Arbroath care home and their families are celebrating after health bosses ruled out offloading it to a private company.
Home to 48 residents, Seaton Grove will instead be developed into a facility for people with long-standing mental health difficulties.
The home was under review after being judged as “not cost efficient” and is still thought to need an investment of at least £1 million to bring it up to a modern standard.
The decision comes after a fiercely fought local campaign warning against handing the home over to a private company.
The Friends of Seaton Grove group had also warned the continuing uncertainty was negatively affecting the “elderly and frail residents”.
Health and social care in Angus is overseen by a partnership including Angus Council, NHS Tayside and charity groups. Key decisions are made by the group’s Integration Joint Board (IJB).
Arbroath councillor Lois Speed, independent, IJB chair, said: “It was entirely necessary to review Seaton Grove as we have a duty of care to all Angus residents to ensure that we provide the best services we can, with the resources that we have.
“This has been a very difficult process for everyone involved. I am very pleased that at last the future of Seaton Grove has now been decided for the immediate future and that residents, staff and their families and friends have some clarity.
“I thank officers for their time and diligence and I would also like to thank Friends of Seaton Grove for their engagement with this process. Their concerns have been very much part of this process.”
