(UK) Scotland: 13yo with severe autism placed 240 mi from home in residential care; no local help

Sept 22, 2026, STV News: Family's autistic daughter placed 240 miles away due to care shortage

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A shortage of residential care in Inverness means 13-year-old Sophie with complex needs is living 240 miles away in Annan. It’s heartbreaking for her family. . . .

Sophie is among 27 island youngster far from home because of a lack of specialist accommodation.

For the McNabs, it means a 10 hour roundtrip to visit Sophie.

The total cost of the various families care packages to the council was more than 7 million pounds [$9.25M].

She has autistic spectrum disorder. She’s nonverbal. Her physical responses can lead to injuring herself. The couple said full-time care was the only option due to a lack of before and after school provision.

Their plea for help has reached Holyrood  . . .

“We’re investing three and a half million pounds [$4.6M] in order to try to overcome that. . . .