Home Farm improvement deadline looms
Written by MartyM on 24 August 2026
24 AUGUST 2026
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Home Farm improvement deadline looms
NHS Highland has until Tuesday to address concerns raised by the Care Inspectorate about the Portree care home.
The Care Inspectorate carried out an unannounced inspection earlier this year and identified concerns around staffing, leadership, residents’ wellbeing and the building.
The report said leadership at the home was rated unsatisfactory, while staffing and wellbeing were rated weak.
The regulator required NHS Highland to make improvements, with the deadline for those changes now due on Tuesday.
NHS Highland has said it has taken the findings seriously and has put an improvement plan in place.
The health board says additional staffing and leadership support have been provided, alongside work to address issues with the building.
However, questions remain over whether the changes made so far have addressed the concerns raised by inspectors.
Concerns over staffing and leadership
One of the key areas highlighted by inspectors was staffing.
The inspection found a reliance on agency and bank staff.
Inspectors also said staff are working excessive hours and some had been living in the home, which was described as “inappropriate”.
The report also criticised what it called a “toxic workplace culture”.
Radio Skye understands the manager of the home had been off on long-term absence.
The inspection also identified issues with the building, including the maintenance of fire doors.
Home Farm’s history
The deadline comes against the backdrop of Home Farm’s history during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The care home was at the centre of a major outbreak in 2020, during which 11 residents died.
The home was subsequently taken over by NHS Highland.
The latest inspection has attracted considerable attention from residents’ families and the wider Skye community.
The SOS Skye campaign group recently held a meeting focusing on the situation at Home Farm.
What happens after Tuesday?
NHS Highland says it has accepted the findings of the inspection and has been working on an improvement plan.
The health board says additional experienced staff and leadership support have been put in place and that work has been carried out to improve the building.
It also says it has been engaging with residents, their families and staff.
However, Tuesday’s deadline is not necessarily the end of the process.
The Care Inspectorate will need to determine whether the required improvements have actually been delivered and whether they are making a difference to residents.
The regulator can continue to monitor the service if concerns remain and can take further regulatory action where necessary.
There has also been political pressure on NHS Highland.
Local MSP Andrew Baxter told Radio Skye he would call for senior NHS Highland resignations if the health board fails to meet the Care Inspectorate’s requirements. NHS Highland refused to respond to Mr Baxter’s comments.
