Northern Ireland care home to close with 40 job losses

A private nursing home for the elderly in County Fermanagh is to close at the end of the month with up to 40 full and part-time staff set to lose their jobs.

The owner of Shannagh Nursing Home, Hugh Tunney, said he was “absolutely devastated” but added the business was no longer financially sustainable.

He said there are 15 residents in the 30-bed home which has been operating at a reduced capacity for several months.

Mr Tunney said the home would stay open until suitable accommodation is found for all of their remaining residents.

He attributed the closure to a lack of patient admissions from the Western Health and Social Care Trust claiming increasing numbers of elderly people are cared for in their own home, rather than being admitted to residential care.

Local Councillor John Coyle is urging an immediate policy change to allow elderly people to remain in care homes like Shannagh.

Mr Coyle said: “This is devastating news for the entire community. Shannagh nursing home has provided first class care for all its residents for many years and will be sorely missed by those living there, their families and the community.

He added that he will be contacting Health Minister Edwin Poots. “It’s now clear for everyone to see that the Transforming Your Care agenda is making it difficult for homes like Shannagh to survive. It’s imperative that we see immediate action to ensure the residents are rehomed to avoid unnecessary stress.”

The home opened in 1992 and has been run as a family business for the past 21 years, offering both short and long-term residential care.