Concerns have been raised about the future of healthcare in a Moray town following the withdrawal of care packages by a provider.
Allied Healthcare has struggled to recruit enough staff in recent months to provide for people in the Forres, Findhorn and Kinloss areas.
Last week families were told that arrangements they depended on would come to a halt because of the shortages.
A temporary solution has been set up with Health and Social Care Moray – but service users have been given no indication how long how the arrangement will last.
One Kinloss resident, whose wife relies on four visits a day from carers, was forced to depend on his daughter to fill the gap after the care arrangements came to an end.
He said: “The carers we had before were really excellent, I couldn’t fault them, but they decided to move on. I don’t blame them for that.
“It’s a national problem, I don’t know what they can do. I felt very aggrieved we only got one week’s notice though, it left us very worried about what would happen.”
Packages set up by Allied Healthcare helped people at home as well as providing support for patients due to leave hospital.
Moray MP Douglas Ross explained the situation had led to an anxious time for many residents who depend on the care in the communities.
He said: “I have been reassured that emergency talks have been held between Moray Council and partner agencies, resulting in an agreement that all current care packages would continue to be provided, albeit with the possibility that some of these services would be provided by different agencies.”
Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston said: “I am very concerned that we face a structural problem in providing care for the people who need it in Moray.”
An Allied Healthcare spokesman said the firm had raised the issue with the council and other agencies as soon as staffing issues arose.
He added: “However, as delivering a high level of care to all our service users is our main priority, we have decided to hand back the care provision contract in the Forres, Kinloss and Findhorn areas.”