Work is nearly finished on the new £8 million Mull and Iona Progressive Care Centre and Community Hospital in Craignure. Work started at the end of 2010 and the centre should open in August this year.

The brand new purpose built centre will include 3 beds for in-patients, a 2 bay community casualty unit and facilities for outpatients. All bedrooms will be for one person only with en-suite toilets and showers.

There will also be 12 individual supported living flats within the news centre which will be managed by West Highland Housing Association. Each flat has a double bedroom and is suitable for couples or single occupancy. Those who need care and support will get it after a community care assessment has been carried out by Argyll and Bute Council’s social work department. Residents who need care will have a tailored care package which will meet their needs during the day and night.

The new centre will replace the existing Dunaros Residential Care Centre and Community Hospital in Salen. The residents who live there just now will be amongst the first to take up the new supported living flats.

Spokesperson for social affairs, Councillor Andrew Nisbet said, “I’m delighted the new centre is nearing completion and I am looking forward to seeing it for myself. This will make a real difference to the people of Mull and Ionaand will provide first class supported housing and hospital facilities. It promises to be an enormous improvement on the current outdated provision. It is, I believe, a model that strives to maintain older people in their own accommodation rather than in institutional settings and which will produce better outcomes and quality of life for older persons.”

Caroline Henderson, NHS Highland Acting Clinical Services Manager (Primary Care), Oban, Lorn & Isles Locality said, “I am really pleased that the Progressive Care Centre is well under construction and I would like to thank all the partners and everyone else involved in the planning and construction of the facility for their hard work and determination in making this a reality. This new building will make such a difference for the local communities on Mull and Iona and will I am sure be something that we can all be proud of for many years to come."

Chairman of the Mull and Iona Progressive Care Company, Bill Thompson said, “We have been working for this for 16 years with a committee of islanders and are delighted to see such good progress. We are very grateful for all the local support over the years in raising half a million pounds.”

Murray Sim, Chair of West Highland Housing Association said “We are delighted to be part of the team delivering this building for the people of Mull. We know that many people from Mull have contributed towards this building and the Mull and Iona Progressive Care Company have to be congratulated for their work that will benefit Mull in the future.  We very much appreciate the Scottish Government’s financial support that is allowing us to provide 15 new properties.”

The project is being delivered by NHS Highland, Argyll and Bute Council, West Highland Housing Association, The Scottish Government and the Mull and Iona Progressive Care Company.