Consultation to begin over closure of NI residential homes
The Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) has approved proposals to initiate a consultation exercise to close over half of NHS Residential Care Homes in Northern Ireland.
Of the 19 residential care homes in Northern Ireland, the 10 homes identified for eventual closure are:
- Northfield House in Donaghadee
- William Street and Rectory Field in Derry
- Roxborough House in Moy
- Slieve Roe in Kilkeel
- Skeagh House in Dromore
- The Roddens in Ballymoney
- Pinewood in Ballymena
- Westlands in Cookstown
- Chestnut Grove or Pine Lodge in Belfast
The HSCB 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. Following the consultation, recommendations on these closures will go back to the HSCB for approval and then onto the health minister for final approval.
The proposal to close half of the Homes in Northern Ireland mirrors the recommendation for a 50% reduction in NHS residential care homes set out in the HSCB’s Transforming Your Care (TYC) document of 2013.
Fionnuala McAndrew, the HSCB director of social care and children, said current permanent residents would not be affected by the proposals but the board had a responsibility to plan for the future.
She said: “I am confident that the recommendations set out in the trusts’ proposals will help us achieve a balance between continuing to care for the current residents of statutory homes appropriately, as well as progressing plans for addressing the future needs and preferences of our population.
“There will always be a need for some level of residential care but the changing trends and desires of people must be taken into account, too.
“It is important that trusts provide the best possible level of care alongside the need to change and modernise their services.”
However, UNISON regional organiser, Joe McCusker said: “This decision by the HSCB will come as a relief to those residents and their families not affected by the closures. However, for those homes that are identified for closure this will cause distress and alarm for residents in those homes knowing that they will be the last residents, while the local communities will be outraged that there will be no NHS residential care provision in their area.”
Mr McCusker added, “If these proposals get approval from the health minister, this means that in major towns and cities across Northern Ireland such as Derry and Ballymena, there will be no NHS residential care provision and no choice for people to avail of statutory residential care. UNISON has been at the forefront of the campaign against the closure of NHS residential care homes and we will continue our fight in partnership with local communities, residents and families to keep the homes open.”
