Care home official opening

The official opening of new Harris House care home has taken place.

The grand opening was carried out by Effie Maclennan, long serving staff member and former matron for nearly 25 years, of the Old Harris House.

Built adjacent to the site of the former care home, the £6.3 million facility has 16 en-suite rooms all finished to highest of standards.

The project was plagued with delays and problems over the past 12 years and plans to start construction work in 2010 were postponed. It risked being scuppered completely when the initial round of tenders came in at about £1 million over the allocated budget.

Effie Maclennan

Official opening of £6 million care home

18 November 2014

The construction work was abandoned after original contractor, UBC Group, known locally as Uist Builders, crashed with £11.5 million debts in 2012. The job was eventually retendered with Lewis firm Cal Max winning with the lowest of six bids.

Comhairle Convener, Cllr Norman MacDonald, said: “I would like to pay tribute to the commitment and professionalism of the staff of Harris House and the Social and Community Services Department who have enabled the transition from the old premises to the new to be a smooth, efficient operation.

“This is an excellent care facility for our elderly folk in Harris which also provides much needed direct and indirect local employment opportunities.”

Cllr Uisdean Robertson, the chairman of the Health and Social Care Committee, said: “Today we have a brand new state of the art Care Home serving our old folks but also providing a sustainable community facility for families throughout Harris.

“Such a facility demonstrates the Comhairle’s commitment to strengthening communities and the importance placed by the Comhairle and its partners on health and well-being and good quality services throughout our islands.”

Iain MacAulay, Director of Social and Community Services, said: “With an increasing age of population and an increase in the instances of dementia, it is vital that we have modern, suitable facilities in our communities throughout the Western Isles. Harris House is a building which is fit for purpose and will serve the families and community of Harris for generations to come.”