SOCIAL work bosses are set to tender for replacement dementia units this week - two years after announcing their plans.

Families of many sufferers in the region were shocked at the start of 2013 when Scottish Borders Council decided it was pulling out of Craw Wood.

The Tweedbank home was the only private sector specialist facility in the Borders - with the local authority paying premium rates for each of the 24 beds it commissioned.

The announcement was met with shock and anger by the spouses and children of the residents.

In March, 2013 it was also announced within the chambers at Newtown St Boswells that a detailed plan for commissioning three smaller replacement units - spread across the Borders - would be drawn up.

And it would be followed by a decommissioning plan for Craw Wood.

In April last year the Border Telegraph revealed that Craw Wood’s owner, the Eildon Group, was planning to close the entire facility.

And that talks had taken place with Scottish Borders Council to find alternative beds for the remaining 17 residents on the dementia unit.

Scottish Borders Council told us at that the tendering process for the three new units was about to begin.

Although a buyer was eventually found for the Craw Wood home - saving up to 30 jobs - uncertainty over the dementia service remained.

One daughter, who we agreed not to name, told us: “We were told that our loved ones would be moved out of Craw Wood and provided with care in a smaller care home environment. That was two years ago.

“Since then Craw Wood was closing, it was staying open, then it was closing again, and it’s gone on like that.

“These are people’s lives yet Scottish Borders Council keeps us in the dark.” Only last week nationwide charity Marie Curie highlighted inadequate care for dementia sufferers across Scotland.

The believe that the number of sufferers will double from 88,000 to over 170,000 by 2031.

Social work bosses at Newtown told the Border Telegraph that tendering for dementia care in the Borders will begin this week.

A spokesperson said: “We are planning to advertise a tender opportunity for specialist dementia care and support sometime after February 12. More information about the proposals will be available after that time.” Catriona Bhatia, depute leader of Scottish Borders Council, is heading up a Care Homes Working Group for the region.

Councillor Bhatia told us: “The department and the Care Homes Working Group are currently looking at the provision of dementia care within the Borders.

“We are aware of increasing demand and a tender is currently out to purchase beds in smaller blocks to ensure sufficient provision and standards of care.

“This approach is to avoid over-reliance on one establishment which can cause the difficulties experienced by Craw Wood.

“If successful also allows a wider spread of provision across the Borders.” But local MSP John Lamont believes more should have been done before now.

Mr Lamont said: “Patients and families are clearly frustrated at the lack of clarity over the future of dementia care in the Borders.

“With such a rapidly ageing population it is essential we are prepared for increased pressure on dementia services, which is why the future of local dementia care services should be a priority.”