THE number of available care home spaces is dropping at a concerning rate, according to Tory MSP Liz Smith.

The Mid-Scotland and Fife Scottish Conservative representative highlighted figures from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe), showing that the number of registered care home places has dropped since 2000.

In the NHS Forth Valley area, the number of places fell by just over 200, comparing last year to the millennium.

However, SNP MSP Keith Brown says fewer people need residential care as government policies support older people living independently in their own homes and communities for as long as possible.

Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Liz Smith said: "These figures show a very worrying reduction in care home places across Tayside, Fife and Forth Valley.

"There are fewer places in council facilities, NHS facilities and voluntary facilities which is particularly concerning when set against the backdrop of an ageing population.

"This cannot continue - we need to see an increase in the number of places available. It's no wonder bed-blocking is such a problem while care home places remain limited.

"I appreciate this is not wholly the Scottish Government’s fault, but it must shoulder some responsibility and start to properly plan for the needs of an ageing population in Mid-Scotland and Fife.”

Responding, Clackmannanshire and Dunblane MSP Keith Brown said: “The SNP firmly believe that it is only right that older people can live more independently in their own home and communities for as long as possible and there are policies in place to support this, which results in fewer people needing residential care.

“We are providing more than £0.5 billion additional funding over three years to help Health and Social Care Partnerships establish new ways of working, and investing a further £250 million per year to protect and grow social care services.”