Committee to consider care facility options

Islands councillors will consider this week whether to consult on extending and modernising the care facilities provided at St Rognvald House in Kirkwall.

On Thursday, March 21, 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 the care campus proposals were last considered by the committee in November 2012, 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 be considered under the council’s Capital Project Appraisal process.

A report to this week’s meeting contains the findings of the options appraisal that has been carried out since the November meeting.

This shows that creating a new 60-place care unit as part of a combined hospital and care facility would cost £12.9 million. This option would involve closing St Rognvald House, 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 £5.6 million.

This option would also involve the upgrade of 16 rooms which currently do not have en-suite facilities. These would be converted into eight en-suite rooms and in total, this option would also result in a 60-place facility.