Defiant residents at Cloughreagh House have been given a stay of execution after the Health Minister scrapped Southern Trust plans to close the facility. But the long term future of the Bessbrook residential home remains uncertain as Edwin Poots said the closure policy had not changed, but rather the way in which it is to be implemented – prompting fears that the facility could face closure. Mr Poots met with Trust chiefs on Friday and told them to drop plans to shut all their NHS homes. Speaking after Friday’s meeting the Health Minister promised “a fresh start” and a “new process.” He said: “I expect a process which not only identifies the needs of each individual affected by the proposed changes but also understands the wishes of every single individual and their families. I want to send out a clear message to older people that there will be genuine consultation and their views will be heard. No one’s care will be put in jeopardy.” The Southern Trust announced last month that all five of its care homes would close as part of the Transforming Your Care programme. Horrified residents at Cloughreagh House told the Democrat last week, they would chain themselves to their beds if the home was shut. A fierce public backlash forced the Health Minister to instruct Trust bosses to scrap the proposals. However his announcement that a new process will take place has received a cautious welcome. Bessbrook SDLP councillor John Feehan said: “The announcement whilst helpful does not totally secure the future of the homes and we need to continue to pile on the pressure. Mr Poot s has said that this is a u-turn on process but not on policy. I would hope that having seen the public wrath at the proposals to close the homes Mr Poots will reverse this particular aspect of his policy. Sinn Fein’s Pat McGinn urged people to have their views and concerns aired through any consultation process on the future of Cloughreagh House and other care homes. He added: “People Power has ensured an abrupt stalling of this disaster which was being steam rolled out by the Trusts. I am sure that residents, their families and staff of Cloughreagh House and all other targeted centres will now have an opportunity to have their views and wishes clearly heard.” The Health Minister is expected to make a statement on the care homes crisis to the Assembly today (Tuesday).
Newry Democrat
7th May 2013
“