THE family of a Dunfermline care home resident due to be uprooted after a decision to close her home has been calling on politicians to help with their plight.

As reported in the Press last month, around 20 elderly people in Dunfermline are to be moved from their Gillie Court and Grants Bank homes after Bield Care pulled the plug on the care home arm of its business.

Families were told that their loved ones would have to move as the facilities would be closed by the end of July next year.

At the time, Bield said it had made the “very difficult decision to withdraw from the residential care home market” as it was in the “best interests” of the long-term future and sustainability of their organisation.

Dr Brian Sanderson, whose mother-in-law is one of those affected, has teamed up with others affected across the country to form the Save Our Bield group.

They have been busy contacting politicians from across the country and a petition they have set up has already attracted more than 3,700 signatures.

This is due to be submitted to the Scottish Government’s Health and Sport Committee on December 12.

“Our aim is quite simply to ask the Scottish Government to intervene to ensure that the homes targeted for closure are kept open and the residents can remain safe and secure in the environment they are accustomed to,” he explained. “It is not much to ask really and it is the humanitarian course of action.”

In his efforts, Dr Sanderson, who is based in Broughty Ferry, has already met health secretary Shona Robison.

“She informed me that the Scottish Government are ‘not bystanders’ in this issue and she will instruct her officials to look at all options.”

Dr Sanderson said a decision on where his mother-in-law will go if Gillie Court closes has yet to be made.

“We have been told by someone in social work that they have got to reassess all the clients and that has to be done by the end of the month,” he said.

“In the meantime, we have been advised to identify three homes that we would think are suitable alternatives, however, every time we phone one, they say we can come and view it but they have no spaces.

“For both the homes in Dunfermline, the closing date is July 31 and it isn’t that far away and we are still getting the constant message that there aren’t enough spaces.”

As part of his efforts, Dr Sanderson has also been in touch with Dunfermline MSP Shirley-Anne Somerville and she has met Bield senior management to seek assurances that measures were in place to support staff and residents.

“Bield advised me that they would take steps to ensure better communication with residents, by providing greater senior management presence at Gillie Court and Grants Bank, and that residents have been offered the opportunity to speak to care home management about the changes to their living arrangements,” said Shirley-Anne.

“I have asked Bield to keep me updated regarding any care home developments in Dunfermline. In addition, I have written to Fife Council, who I understand are responsible for placing residents in alternative accommodation following the closure of Gillie Court and Grants Bank next year.”