Some 160 elderly residents face eviction

Twelve homes could be saved from closure if the Scottish Government intervenes, a union has claimed.

It comes as 38 Degrees petition opposing the closures gained 9,000 signatures.

Bield Housing and Care announced in October it intended closing 12 care homes in Edinburgh, Falkirk, Glasgow, Borders, South Lanarkshire and West Lothian by summer 2018.

It would mean 160 elderly people are being evicted from the place they have called home for decades – many of whom are over 90 year old.

And it also means 200 qualified registered care workers are being made compulsorily redundant.

Unison, the trade union, is calling the situation a "disaster" and called on the Scottish Government to bail out Bield.

John Gallacher, Unison’s Scottish organiser said: “We are disappointed that Scottish government ministers seem content to stand by and let the closures happen, when the lives of vulnerable elderly people are at risk, and the jobs of essential care workers in many Scottish communities are being jettisoned.

“If it goes ahead it will be a disaster.

“New integrated joint boards should be subjected to proper political and public scrutiny and held accountable for allowing such damaging developments to take place within ridiculously short timescales.”

Bield has said it has been making losses on its care homes for several years, and is now doing its best to prepare residents for the future after closures take place.

It has also said it is examining ways of keeping open what is reportedly said to be a small number of homes.

The Scottish Government has been asked for comment.