Menu
24/04/2013
Nine Residential Care Homes To Close
The Northern Health and Social Care Trust is set to close all nine of its residential care homes starting in November this year, according to Unison.
Two homes, Pinewood in Ballymena and Westlands in Cookstown are to close in November, followed by Rathmoyle in Moyle in January 2014. The remaining seven residential care homes are set to close sometime between 2014 and 2018.
The programme for the future delivery of health and social care services in Northern Ireland, Transforming Your Care' (TYC), recommends a 50% reduction in NHS residential care homes. Yet, in an extraordinary move, the Northern Trust has decided to close all its homes.
In the past two days, the Trust held meetings in its residential care homes to inform staff of the closures despite no formal approval given by Trust Board to close the homes, and without consulting with the residents in the care homes or their relatives.
Unison Regional Organiser, Joe McCusker, said: "The proposal to close residential care homes leaves no NHS provision for residential care in the Northern Health Trust area. This will remove any choice for vulnerable people to be cared for in an NHS care home. The Northern Health Trust needs to explain why they have taken the decision to close all its residential care homes.
"This is a deliberate move by the Trust to withdraw from residential home care provision and leave the care of the most vulnerable in our society in the hands of private sector providers whose main aim is to maximise profits and satisfy their shareholders."
Unison is seeking an urgent meeting with the Northern Health Trust Chief Executive to discuss the home closures, and will be in attendance at the Trust Board meeting tomorrow morning at 10am, Fern House, Antrim Area Hospital, to voice their opposition to the home closures.
(CD/H)
Two homes, Pinewood in Ballymena and Westlands in Cookstown are to close in November, followed by Rathmoyle in Moyle in January 2014. The remaining seven residential care homes are set to close sometime between 2014 and 2018.
The programme for the future delivery of health and social care services in Northern Ireland, Transforming Your Care' (TYC), recommends a 50% reduction in NHS residential care homes. Yet, in an extraordinary move, the Northern Trust has decided to close all its homes.
In the past two days, the Trust held meetings in its residential care homes to inform staff of the closures despite no formal approval given by Trust Board to close the homes, and without consulting with the residents in the care homes or their relatives.
Unison Regional Organiser, Joe McCusker, said: "The proposal to close residential care homes leaves no NHS provision for residential care in the Northern Health Trust area. This will remove any choice for vulnerable people to be cared for in an NHS care home. The Northern Health Trust needs to explain why they have taken the decision to close all its residential care homes.
"This is a deliberate move by the Trust to withdraw from residential home care provision and leave the care of the most vulnerable in our society in the hands of private sector providers whose main aim is to maximise profits and satisfy their shareholders."
Unison is seeking an urgent meeting with the Northern Health Trust Chief Executive to discuss the home closures, and will be in attendance at the Trust Board meeting tomorrow morning at 10am, Fern House, Antrim Area Hospital, to voice their opposition to the home closures.
(CD/H)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
26 April 2013
Southern Trust To Close Five Residential Care Homes
SDLP Health Spokesperson Conall McDevitt MLA has said that today's announcement that the Southern Trust are set to close five residential care homes further fuels the SDLP’s long held suspicion that the Health Minister is intent on destroying the ethos of the NHS by replacing it with stealth privatisation.
Southern Trust To Close Five Residential Care Homes
SDLP Health Spokesperson Conall McDevitt MLA has said that today's announcement that the Southern Trust are set to close five residential care homes further fuels the SDLP’s long held suspicion that the Health Minister is intent on destroying the ethos of the NHS by replacing it with stealth privatisation.
15 September 2021
Booster Vaccinations Announced By Health Minister
Booster vaccinations are set to be offered to those first vaccinated during Phase 1 of the programme, Health Minister Robin Swann has announced. Minister Swann has made the announcement on the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
Booster Vaccinations Announced By Health Minister
Booster vaccinations are set to be offered to those first vaccinated during Phase 1 of the programme, Health Minister Robin Swann has announced. Minister Swann has made the announcement on the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
22 March 2022
£5m Announced For NI's Care Home Sector
A £5 million support package has been announced to help Northern Ireland's care home sector with rising energy costs. Care homes, like the rest of society, have been dealing with sharply rising energy prices. The £5m funding will be allocated by HSC Trusts on the basis of bed numbers per home.
£5m Announced For NI's Care Home Sector
A £5 million support package has been announced to help Northern Ireland's care home sector with rising energy costs. Care homes, like the rest of society, have been dealing with sharply rising energy prices. The £5m funding will be allocated by HSC Trusts on the basis of bed numbers per home.
29 July 2019
Job Prospects For Unemployed With Care Home Training Scheme
A care home group is offering job opportunities for the unemployed in Belfast following completion of a four-week training programme. Macklin Care Homes, which operates six homes in Northern Ireland, has developed a scheme to equip unemployed members of society with recognised qualifications in health and social care skills.
Job Prospects For Unemployed With Care Home Training Scheme
A care home group is offering job opportunities for the unemployed in Belfast following completion of a four-week training programme. Macklin Care Homes, which operates six homes in Northern Ireland, has developed a scheme to equip unemployed members of society with recognised qualifications in health and social care skills.
20 May 2015
Over Half Of Residential Care Homes To Be Considered For Closure
A consultation process to close over half of NHS residential care homes in Northern Ireland has been approved. The Health and Social Care Board announced that a 12 week consultation exercise on the proposals will take place over the summer, which will be undertaken by the five Health Trusts.
Over Half Of Residential Care Homes To Be Considered For Closure
A consultation process to close over half of NHS residential care homes in Northern Ireland has been approved. The Health and Social Care Board announced that a 12 week consultation exercise on the proposals will take place over the summer, which will be undertaken by the five Health Trusts.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Dry in the southeast at first otherwise widespread light rain or drizzle for most. It will turn mostly dry towards dawn, although a few patches of light rain or drizzle continuing, mainly in the southwest. Minimum temperature 5 °C.
