Kirk-run rehab centre closes

Ronachan House in Argyll has been run for 37 years by the Church of Scotland's social care arm, CrossReach, dealing with both drink and drug rehabilitation.

CrossReach's director of adult care services, Calum Murray, said: "Despite glowing reports on its quality of care and support over the years from the Care Commission and almost 1m subsidy over the last decade, referral numbers from local authorities have fallen to the level where the service became economically unviable."

The 14-bed property, in Clachan near Tarbert, is not owned by CrossReach but was gifted to the Church of Scotland by a local family. Discussions have begun with the family to return the property to them.

All 11 of the home's staff will be made redundant. Mr Murray said: "All 11 staff of Ronachan are to be particularly commended for their dedication to the service users during what has been several years of uncertainty.

"Indeed, many people are alive today because of the care, treatment and support afforded by the dedicated people there.

"Senior managers are very proud of both the staff and the facility which is frankly idyllic, and local authorities may regret in future that such a wonderful amenity no longer exists to rehabilitate people with drug and alcohol addiction."

A spokeswoman for Argyll and Bute Council said: "The model of rehabilitation for substance misuse has moved away from residential and more towards community based approaches.

"All authorities in the former Strathclyde region previously purchased places from CrossReach but there are not sufficient numbers in Argyll and Bute to continue to make it viable."