The Scottish Government has been accused of failing the 167 residents of Bield care homes

Politicians have clashed over plans to shut care homes across Scotland.

Around 170 residents of Bield care homes face being moved after the charity announced it was shutting its residential facilities last October.

Since then a campaign to save the homes has been launched by the families affected, who have said that the move would have a devastating impact on residents.

In the Scottish Parliament this week, Labour leader Richard Leonard highlighted the case of Nancy Sutherland – a 94-year-old woman who has been a Bield tenant for 23 years.

He said: “Labour MSPs heard first-hand families tell of the stress their frail elderly relatives are under because they are about to be evicted from their specialist care homes.

“One woman, Nancy Sutherland, is 94, she has been a Bield tenant for 23 years and along with 166 other elderly people she is about to lose her home.

“Every day she asks her daughter where she will be moving to and every day her anxiety levels rise. They rise because her daughter has no answer. Does the first minister?”

Nicola Sturgeon responded: “It is exactly because we realise how unsettling, indeed how traumatic this decision has been and will be for residents, their families and employees that the Scottish Government will continue to work to ensure we can do everything we can to guarantee continuity of care for these residents and make sure there is no compromise whatsoever in the quality of their care.”

Since being alerted to the company’s decision, she said the government had worked with Bield, the Care Inspectorate and others, including new joint health and social care integration authorities.

It is understood that Bield has held talks with other service providers to save four of the homes – however at least eight still face closure.