Care homes closures: Health Minister Poots should suspend move, say Sinn Féin MLAs

» John Hedges

An Phoblacht Editor

‘These announcements to close the homes have come out of the blue and it is obvious that the rights of the elderly residents and their families have not been taken on board’

HEALTH MINISTER Edwin Poots should suspend the controversial plan he has approved that could close half of the North’s care homes for the elderly, Sinn Féin MLAs say.

The potential outcomes of the Transforming Your Care (TYC) programme have provoked an outpouring of reaction, fear and uncertainty that has swept the media.

Sue Ramsey (right), Sinn Féin West Belfast MLA and Chair of the Assembly’s Health Committee, appeared on the Stephen Nolan BBC TV show this week to voice her concerns.

Sue and her fellow Sinn Féin members on the Health Committee, Maeve McLaughlin MLA and Mickey Brady MLA, said the Health Minister should suspend the decision until there is “proper consultation” with residents and families.

“The Health Minister has already stated publicly that the Health Trusts have went further than what he expected,” Sue said.

“Edwin Poots had stated to the Assembly that no residents would be moved until alternative provisions are in place and clearly that has not been the case.

“These announcements to close the homes have come out of the blue and it is obvious that the rights of the elderly residents and their families have not been taken on board.

“The consultation needs to be robust and the rights of the residents in care homes needs to be paramount to any decision taken. The buck stops with the Health Minister and he needs to take action now.”