The Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee will conclude its work in March 2026 ahead of the next Scottish Parliament election. While it will continue to meet, the Committee has agreed it will not consider petitions submitted after 10 October. This is to ensure all petitions currently in the system can be considered before the next Scottish Parliament election. It is also unlikely that the Committee would be able to schedule and meaningfully progress petitions submitted after 10 October before the election. Contact the Committee team at petitions.committee@parliament.scot for more information about the petitions process.
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Under consideration PE2074: Increase local government funding to help protect the vulnerable elderly population and prevent the closure of care homes
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to increase the funding it provides to local councils, enabling them to deliver the best possible health and social care, and help to protect the vulnerable, frail and elderly population from the closure of residential and nursing care homes.
Previous action taken
Have contacted Humza Yousaf MSP, Shona Robison MSP, Michael Matheson MSP, Anas Sarwar MSP, and South Lanarkshire Council Chief Executive regarding the proposed closure of McClymont House in Lanark.
A similar petition, related to the proposed closure of McClymont House, has have been handed into South Lanarkshire Council’s public petitions committee.
Background information
Due to government cuts and the current cost of living crisis, councils are being forced to make drastic cuts in their health and social care budgets.
Unused COVID-19 funds were clawed back from local authorities; we suggest the return of these funds would alleviate the considerable financial burdens facing councils, helping prevent care home closures. Current research suggests one care home in Scotland is closing every week!
South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) have a £38millon budget deficit for year 23/24. To save money, they have proposed closing two care homes in Lanarkshire.
After being advised that the Integration Joint Board (IJB) would be holding a vote on whether to close McClymont House, family members lobbied the four voting councillors about our concerns as this is the only remaining council run care home in the vicinity. They voted against the proposal, resulting in a split vote, a first for any Scottish IJB. New admissions have been halted and a consultation process is underway.
174 signatures
This petition is now under consideration
Click here for further information about the consideration of this petition.