Tagsa Uibhist has announced it is suspending the respite service offered at the charity’s Doigheag care home in Iochdar, South Uist.

Here follows a statement from the Tagsa Uibhist Board of Directors:

“Tagsa Uibhist is most disappointed to announce the suspension of the Doigheag Respite Care Service at the end of April.

“We would like to thank all our staff and members of the community who have given generously of their time and money to support us in setting up and running Doigheag.

“Our belief that we had set up a valued alternative service for folk in need of respite care was supported by the positive feedback we received from our clients and their carers.

“The suspension of the respite service has come about following changes in employment law, recent and planned increases in the National Minimum and Living Wages, and the squeeze on local authority funding that has hit the care sector particularly hard. These changes translate into a substantial increase in our costs which we can no longer cover at the rate that our clients and local authority have agreed.

“We are actively looking at alternative ways of using the excellent facilities at Doigheag for the benefit of those in need of care and support in our community. Respite Care is a vital part of the support relatives and carers need in order to be able to continue to provide care at home for the sick and elderly in our community. The need for respite care is only likely to increase in the future.

“Tagsa Uibhist is suspending rather than closing the Doigheag service in the hope that circumstances may change and this option will once again be affordable. In the meantime we are actively pursuing alternative ways of supporting carers in the community.”