A SALTCOATS carer has been dealt a double blow in the lead up to Christmas as she faces losing her job and moving her gravely ill dad from stricken Seabank Care Home.

Fiona McLeod, who has worked at the care home in Canal Street for nearly a year and a half, received the news that she would be out of work last week along with 88 other members of staff.

But to add insult to injury, her dad James, who suffers from vascular dementia, is a patient in the care home and she is in the process of moving him to a new care facility.

Her dad James, who is 89, will now be moved to Irvine as Fiona looks for a new job.

She explained how the blow was hard to take and how she is coping, she told the Herald: “When we first found out, it was really difficult but we are getting on with it now as we have a job to do. We are trying to make everything as normal as possible for the residents, God love them.”

Fiona works with three patients directly and ensures that they have everything the need but only got into caring about 18 months ago after previously working in hospitality and her dad moved into Seabank after she got the job there. She said it was good as she could keep and eye on him but that has all been turned on its head.

She added: “My dad has vascular dementia. He doesn’t remember us anymore and although he only moved in a year past in September, it has really caught him quickly and he is a shadow of his former self. I thought he would see away his days in Seabank but its not to be.”

Residents have already started leaving the home and others will follow over the coming weeks and the staff are still gutted after working hard to make improvements for everyone.

Fiona said: “We are gutted. When the grades came in from the Care Inspectorate they were low but we have really worked hard to get them where they should be.”

The home is set to close permanently in January following financial issues and a man has been charged with alleged theft and embezzlement.