Pinewood: Allister accuses Poots of ‘dogma before people’

In a blistering attack on Health Minister Edwin Poots, Mr. Allister said: “There is something inherently cruel about evicting a 102 year old and other elderly residents from the only home they know. Yet, this is the outworking of the DUP Health Minister’s policy to close all state owned residential homes, which is set to hit North Antrim particularly hard.

“Not so long ago Mr Poots campaigned to save such a home in his own constituency, Skeagh House, but now, alas, he is intent on just such closures across North Antrim. This privatisation policy is finance driven, but glibly ignores the reality that for many residents these facilities are their home. Eviction at this time of life is heartless.

“Likewise, the theory that more such residents should be catered for in the community is largely unreal. In the main those elderly residents in these homes are there either because they cannot cope on their own or have no family arrangements capable of providing for them.

“But, sadly, none of this seems to count with Mr Poots as he drives on the dogma of “Transforming Your Care”. Once more real and vulnerable people are the casualties.”