Health Secretary, Neil Gray, visits Antonine House Care Home in Bearsden

The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care in Scotland joined a 100th birthday celebration as he visited our Bearsden care home, Antonine House.

Neil Gray was visiting Meallmore care home, Antonine House, to learn more about the care and services provided at Antonine House and other Meallmore services, as well as to discuss key sector issues.

During his visit, Mr Gray attended and participated in a 100th birthday party for centenarian resident, Margaret McNae, where he presented her with a card from The King and The Queen Consort. He also met resident, Myra Davidson (84), to congratulate her on achieving an NVQ qualification in Italian after completing a 12-week course with social enterprise, Lingo Flamingo.

Mr Gray toured the home with senior Meallmore colleagues, including Chief Operating Officer, Mary Preston; Quality Director, Hazel O’Rourke; Operations Director, Carol-Anne Foote; Area Manager, Amanda King; and Antonine House General Manger, June McIntosh. He also met Veronica Dormer, General Manager of Meallmore’s newest addition, Kelvinside Manor, which is opening this autumn in the West End of Glasgow. Kelvinside Manor will be Meallmore’s 27th care home in Scotland.

Discussions on the day covered the concerns being faced by the care sector across the country, including recruitment, funding, changes to building guidance for mental health homes, the Nurse pay uplift and the National Care Service.

Mary Preston, Chief Operating Officer for Meallmore Group said:

“We were thrilled to have the opportunity to showcase the fantastic facilities we have at Antonine House, as well as to introduce Mr Gray to Meallmore and our commitment to excellence. For over 30 years, Meallmore has been a leader in delivering compassionate, personalised care in Scotland. We’re focused on ensuring every resident receives the support and respect they deserve, so we took this opportunity to discuss the key challenges that we and others in our sector are currently facing in our work to deliver this. We had a productive and enjoyable day and would like to thank Mr Gray for taking the time to come and learn more about our home and services across Scotland. The Meallmore team and the residents at Antonine House were particularly pleased that he was able to join us for Margaret’s 100th birthday party, making it extra special for everyone in attendance.”

Speaking about his visit, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Neil Gray said:

“It was a pleasure to meet the residents in Meallmore Care Home’s Antonine House in Glasgow to find out more about their plans for growth, as well as hearing about their workforce planning and service delivery. I appreciated having an open discussion with the Meallmore team on some of the challenges facing the sector and how improvements could be made, including through the development of the National Care Service. I also enjoyed seeing the range of facilities on offer at the care home and, as an added bonus, joining in the birthday celebrations for centenarian Magaret McNae.”

The visit from Neil Gray, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, was a memorable and productive event for both the Meallmore team and the residents at Antonine House. In addition to celebrating a centenarian’s milestone, the visit provided an opportunity for meaningful discussions about key sector challenges and the future of care services in Scotland. With its ongoing commitment to excellence, Meallmore remains focused on providing compassionate and personalised care to residents across Scotland, further solidifying its role as a leader in the sector.

What was the purpose of Neil Gray’s visit to Antonine House?

Neil Gray, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care in Scotland, visited Antonine House to engage with Meallmore's care services, focusing on challenges in the care sector, including recruitment and funding issues.

What were the key sector challenges discussed during the visit?

Conversations revolved around recruitment shortages, funding pressures, mental health home building regulations, the Nurse pay uplift, and the upcoming National Care Service.

How does the National Care Service affect care providers like Meallmore?

The National Care Service is being developed to address issues across the sector, including care quality and workforce planning, impacting providers like Meallmore.

How does Meallmore address the workforce challenges in the care sector?

Meallmore’s approach to workforce challenges was discussed, focusing on recruitment initiatives and supporting colleagues with the right learning and development to deliver excellent care throughout all our homes.

What sets Meallmore's Kelvinside Manor apart?

Kelvinside Manor, Meallmore’s 27th care home, will offer high-quality care in a modern, purpose-built facility, contributing to addressing the demand for excellent care in Scotland’s aging population.