Despite the news that the project will now cost £1,538,000, the Bethesda Trust is confident that the money can be raised before the project is completed next summer.
Islanders were stunned when it was announced five years ago that all residents in care homes had to be offered single rooms with en-suite facilities. There were fears at that stage that the Bethesda home in Stornoway would have to close.
The Care Commission introduced the new regulations in April 2002, posing a real challenge to the Bethesda management committee – as 14 of the 21 residents in the care home shared accommodation.
Said the Bethesda finance officer/ fundraiser, DR Macdonald: "After much deliberation it was decided - in order to provide the best service to our residents - that every effort should be made to comply with this requirement, otherwise the home would be forced to close."
Fundraising for the proposed project commenced in June 2003 and early cost projections indicated that the cost would be between £800,000 and £1 million.
However, by 2005 this figure had risen to £1.2 million and finally in May of this year the contract price accepted was £1,538,000!
Mr Macdonald stated: "There is a shortfall of £500,000 which we hope to raise between now and the completion of the project next summer. We are waiting to hear from Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and the Western Isles NHS Board once their capital expenditure budgets have been completed.
"Failure on our part to succeed in attracting the funding would impact on the Council in having to find 21 nursing home beds, and on the Health Board as the only place that could provide the nursing care, and that would mean 21 'blocked' beds," said Mr Macdonald.
He pointed out that Bethesda had applied to various trusts and foundations, and were waiting to hear the outcome of their applications.
Said Mr Macdonald: "We continue to value the local support we have received over the years, without which we would have been unable to continue. We get donations from a variety of sources, including statutory bodies, organisations and individuals. We value all the contributions that have been given to date."
Material donors to date have included the sales of the Salm CD's £100,000; Free Church of Scotland Social Fund £100,000; HIE Innse Gall £93,000; Mr Ken Sutherland & Family, Balallan £20,000 and the RBS/Dalglish Challenge £36,000.
Bethesda is a non-profit making Christian charity registered with the Inland Revenue. It is a purpose-built single storey building with landscaped garden and comprises a hospice wing with four single bedrooms and a care home wing with 21 beds.
"The home from home atmosphere affords patients dignity and a quality of life as full and as active as their circumstances permit," said Mr Macdonald. "It is a home of high standard, devoted to the loving care of our elderly and those in our community requiring palliative and terminal care, which continues to focus on quality of life and continuity of care. There is a cheerful, relaxed air about the place which seems to exude peace and a unique combination of spiritual and physical aspects of patient care."
Bethesda has earned a reputation in the community and considers itself a quality care provider which seeks constantly to update and maintain standards.
Said Mr Macdonald: "Bethesda belongs to the community and has been loyally supported by the community since it opened its doors in March 1992."
He pointed out: "There is no fee charged to the patient for hospice care and in common with other hospices we have to raise 50% of our running costs each year and for 2007/2008 this amounts to £160,000. All donations received are used for the enhancement of patient care and the provision of medical equipment. Elderly care services attractspublic sector funding from the Social Work Department of the Council and this year the figure is set at £542 per week."
Mr Macdonald said that Trustees were responsible for the strategic direction and overseeing of the facility with a Management Committee and an Executive and Finance sub-committee who provide day-to-day input. The facility employs 46 permanent staff (34 whole time equivalents).
He pointed out that regulations introduced by the Care Commission in 2002 required each resident to be offered a single room with en-suite/shower facilities with effect from April 2007.
Mr Macdonald stated: "In order to comply with this, a major refurbishment programme was necessary to maintain the present service level and to do this substantive capital expenditure was required. The total cost of the project will be £1,538,000 and to date £1 million has been raised from extensive fundraising over many years."
The proposed refurbishment will include single en-suite accommodation for their 21 residents; training facilities, including video conferencing facilities to provide degree level course content for nursing staff; staff room and support services; patient treatment room; overnight family room; staff changing rooms; library facilities and meeting room. It is also proposed to create upper floor space for future development.
Said Mr Macdonald: "Failure to comply with the new regulations would certainly have seen the cancellation of registration as a care home which would also impact on the hospice registration as it would not be able to operate as a stand alone unit. This would have had a catastrophic effect on a community that fought so hard to set up the facility and has continued to support it practically and financially over the past 15 years."
Now they have to raise over £500,000 and anyone wishing to discuss fund-raising ideas should contact DR Macdonald at Bethesda (01851 706222).