Orkney Councillors are to consult on whether care facilities provided at St Rognvald's House in Kirkwall, should be extended and modernised.

On Thursday, the Policy and Resources Committee will discuss a recommendation that Orkney Islands Council should support this option, rather than build a care facility as part of a care campus in Kirkwall.

When care campus proposals were considered by the Committee in November last year, it was agreed that a detailed assessment should be made of the full financial implications. It was also agreed that the proposal to replace St Peter's House in Stromness should be considered under the Council's Capital Project Appraisal process.

A report to this week's meeting contains the findings of the options appraisal.

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It shows that creating a new 60-place care unit as part of a combined hospital and care facility would cost £12.9m. This would involve closing St Rognvald's which currently provides 44 care places.

The option recommended to Elected Members is to create a modern 24-place extension at St Rognvald's at a cost of £5.6m. This option would also involve the upgrade of 16 rooms which currently do not have en-suite facilities and convert them into eight en-suite rooms. In total, the option would result in a 60-place facility.

The report reiterates OIC’s commitment to an integrated approach in delivering social care and health services through Orkney Health and Care, a partnership between the Council and NHS Orkney.

Council Chief Executive Alistair Buchan said: "The proposals brought together by officers for consideration by Elected Members provide excellent opportunities for the Council to realise, once and for all, its long standing ambition to develop modern care facilities for older people in our community.

"Our thinking is to provide options for what might be described as an Orkney solution – facilities where older people can be provided with the best of care in homely surroundings well suited to the needs of our community."

He added that he options would be considered by the Policy and Resources Committee with recommendations made to the Full Council.

(JP)