Care homes - 'We are seeing some light at end of tunnel'

The collapse of Britain's biggest nursing home operator was always going to take months to sort out.

No-one expected alternative care for Southern Cross's 31,000 residents to be organised quickly, but finally it seems we are beginning to see some light at the end of the tunnel.

Multi-millionaire city businessman Robert Kilgour has become the latest healthcare entrepreneur to wade into the crisis, taking over 11 Scottish homes and hinting that more will follow.

His move follows the huge deal struck by Dr Chai Patel, founder of the famous Priory clinics, last week to rescue 249 homes.

Mr Kilgour made a large part of his fortune by building up the Four Seasons Health Care chain in the 1990s, before branching out into other business interests and medical philanthropy.

It is reassuring that someone with his track record sees a bright future for the industry somewhere down the line.

But despite this progress, the future of a third of Southern Cross's 752 homes still hangs in the balance, including homes in the Lothians. Among them are sure to be those homes with the deepest problems.

If local authorities are to end up stepping in to care for their residents, then they must be told so that they can draw up their contingency plans.

If that information is not forthcoming from the financially stricken company, then the Scottish Government has a duty to intervene to ensure that the continuity of care is as smooth as possible.

McFlurry of activity

Anywhere brave enough to serve food in the early hours of the morning in the city centre is bound to attract some problems given the amount of alcohol being consumed around it.

So we should be grateful that McDonald's wants to open for 24 hours a day on Princes Street during the Festival, regardless of whether it is our favourite eating place or not.

The police have pointed out 25 incidents of minor disorder during its late opening hours over the last year and highlighted the need for door stewards to control drunken yobs.

There are simply too few places you can go to sit down in Edinburgh in the early hours where alcohol does not dominate the menu.

At least by granting permission to McDonald's the city would be taking a small step towards redressing that balance.

We have to hope that one day it won't need to employ bouncers on its doors to be able to stay open into the wee, small hours.