First Minister John Swinney said the Scottish Government had offered to help find a solution for around 40 residents of a care home facing closure.

Private operator HC-One said in September his Moss Park home in Caol near Fort William could close.

Highland Council and NHS Highland plan, in the event of an emergency, to move residents to other homes.

During Prime Minister’s Questions on Thursday, Swinney told MPs the situation was worrying.

Responding to a question from Scottish Conservative MP Halcro Johnston, Swinney said Health Secretary Neil Gray and Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, who is also the local MP, had been involved in discussions about the future of the House.

The Prime Minister added: “The Government is prepared to be willing and committed to trying to find a solution, because the impact of the proposed closure is going in a completely opposite direction to where I want things to go.”

Residents’ families fear the relocation could involve homes far from Fort William.

Norman Calder, 76, whose wife Becky is in Moss Park, said he feared she could be moved 78 miles to Lochgilphead in Argyll or 164 miles to Wick in Caithness.

He told BBC Naidheachdan: “I go down to see her every day, sometimes twice a day.

“It’s not nice to have your wife in a house, but she gets the best possible treatment for her.

“It would be devastating for the people of Lochaber as a whole, not just Fort William, if Moss Park were to close because they have nowhere else to go.”

Highland Council said work was underway to find an alternative to closing Moss Park.

Health and Social Care Chair David Fraser said: “We understand this is a worrying time for residents, relatives and everyone involved, as we continue to look at potential solutions for residents from Moss Park.

“It’s a difficult situation.”

HC-One said in September that it was working with officials to secure the future of Moss Park.

It was among a small number of homes across Scotland that the company was listed for sale in March 2021.

A spokesperson said: “Unfortunately, at Moss Park we have long struggled to build and retain the comprehensive, permanent care teams needed to consistently provide the high standards of care our residents deserve. »