Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Neil Gray MSP has hailed Blantyre LIFE for its “wonderful” integrated care and community-based approach, following a visit to the award-winning facility in South Lanarkshire.
Blantyre LIFE is a pioneering housing and care campus that champions the ‘home for life’ principle, focusing on enabling individuals to live as independently as possible within their own homes.
Mr Gray was welcomed by Professor Soumen Sengupta, Chief Officer of South Lanarkshire University Health and Social Care Partnership, Head of Health and Social Care Paul O’Neill, Integration Joint Board Vice Chair Lesley McDonald and colleagues from Blantyre LIFE. He toured the pioneering care campus, which is helping reduce hospital admissions, tackle delayed discharges, and restore independence for people recovering after a health crisis.
The Cabinet Secretary met with staff and service users, experiencing first-hand the positive difference the service is making to people’s lives.
Mr Gray said: “I am resolutely focused on taking the necessary action to reduce waiting times and clear blockages leading to delayed hospital discharges across our NHS.
“It’s been an absolute pleasure to see first-hand the wonderful work being delivered by the team at Blantyre LIFE. Their focus on supporting people who are ready to leave hospital but need that extra bit of help to get back on their feet and return home safely is vital. This is not just important for patients but for the sustainability of our wider health and social care system.
“Credit goes to all the staff and partners involved in establishing and running this service and I wish every patient the greatest success.”
The visit included a tour of the facility’s intermediate care unit, rehabilitation gym and a showcase of the site’s pioneering use of digital health and care technologies. Mr Gray engaged with staff and service users, hearing personal stories of recovery and resilience.
During the visit, Mr Gray spoke with service users, including Patricia Robertson, who described her care experience as “five stars”, adding that the staff were “really on the ball – I can’t praise them enough.”
Marjie McBride, Intermediate Care Manager at Blantyre LIFE, said: “It was a privilege to welcome the Cabinet Secretary to showcase all the great work being delivered here. Every person we support has a story, and it’s incredibly rewarding to help them regain strength, confidence and control of their lives.”
Professor Sengupta added: “We were delighted to welcome the Cabinet Secretary and extremely proud to demonstrate how integrated and community-based health and social care is successfully delivering compassionate, personalised and effective support in South Lanarkshire.
“Blantyre LIFE is not just a service – it’s a commitment to enabling people to live well, with dignity and purpose. This outstanding facility is integral in helping as many people as possible to live independently and in doing so, contributes to wider efforts to improve unscheduled care and tackle delayed discharges.
“My sincere thanks go to all the dedicated staff who bring this exceptional service to life for the benefit of local people, and the local community for their continued and heartfelt support.”
Blantyre LIFE – a collaboration between South Lanarkshire Council, NHS Lanarkshire, and South Lanarkshire University Health and Social Care Partnership – provides 20 intermediate care beds and 20 technology-enabled homes for people aged 50 and over. The service has supported more than 200 individuals in its first year, reducing average lengths of stay from 44 to 27 days.
