114 fewer care workers

Health Minister Michael McGimpsey revealed the information in response to an Assembly Question saying the Trust is now focusing resources on supporting service users.

He was asked to detail any reduction in the number of domiciliary health care workers in the Western Health and Social Care Trust since May 2007.

He replied: "The recruitment and retention of domiciliary care workers is a matter for each HSC Trust. The Western Trust has advised that it has not encountered any retention difficulties regarding domiciliary care workers and this remains the position.

"The Trust has also advised that it currently employs 910 domiciliary care staff, a reduction of 114 since 2007.

"This reduction involved home help workers, who provided low level practical support, while the Trust has focussed resources on supporting service users with the most complex needs.

"As well as directly employing these staff, the Trust has contracts with 17 independent sector providers for domiciliary care."