‘Get a grip of this situation, and quickly’: Upper Bann MP calls for urgent action over domiciliary care ‘crisis’
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart is seeking an urgent meeting with Northern Ireland’s Health Minister and the Chief Executive of the Southern Health Trust over the current “crisis” within domiciliary care services.
The DUP representative said while the problems are Northern Ireland-wide, the situation in the Southern Trust area highlights the growing pressure on the entire system.
"Concerns have intensified following reports of providers withdrawing services, care packages being reduced, and hundreds of people still waiting for the support they need to remain safely in their own homes,” she said.
"Domiciliary care is one of the most vital services in our community, yet it continues to be treated as an afterthought. The pressures we are now seeing, particularly within the Southern Trust, should come as no surprise. This crisis has been building for years.
"I regularly raise the issue of delays in care packages, the number of people receiving inadequate support, and the impact this has on families. When care is not available at home, people end up in hospital or cannot be discharged when they are ready, placing even greater strain on an already overwhelmed health service.
"Concerns about reduced call times only add to that pressure. It is not sustainable, and it is not fair on those who rely on this care.”
Carla Lockhart said domiciliary care workers are undervalued and underpaid and claimed many are now dealing with rising fuel costs as they travel between visits, effectively paying out of their own pocket to do their job.
"That is not sustainable and is driving people out of the sector,” she added.
"If we are serious about fixing our health service in Northern Ireland, then we must be serious about investing in domiciliary care and properly supporting the workforce delivering it. It is essential to helping people stay at home and keeping the wider system functioning.”
The MP said she started her career as a home help and has seen first-hand the value of this work.
However, she said the sector “continues to face underfunding, staffing pressures and a lack of recognition”.
She called on Health Minister Mike Nesbitt to “get a grip of this situation, and quickly”, warning: “warning without urgent action, the system will simply not cope.
"I have written to the Minister and to the Chief Executive of the Southern Trust seeking an urgent meeting to discuss how services will be sustained and properly resourced,” she added.
Carla Lockhart said many people have already been in touch with her about these issues and will continue to raise their concerns.
"If you have been affected, I would encourage you to get in contact so that your experience can be heard and acted upon,” she encouraged.
In March, the plight of families enduring long delays for domiciliary care packages was raised by Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon councillors with representatives calling for a meeting to be arranged with Southern HSC Trust representatives, to highlight the pressing need for more care packages to meet demand.
At that time it was reported that theTrust had 817 people waiting for full domiciliary care packages.