Roddens care home may be closed

Of the 19 Residential Care Homes in Northern Ireland, the Health and Social Care Board has listed 10 homes identified for eventual closure, including The Roddens.

The HSCB announced that a 12 week consultation exercise on the proposals will take place over the summer months, which will be undertaken by the 5 Health Trusts. Following the consultation, recommendations on these closures will go back to the HSCB for approval and then onto the Health Minister for final approval.

The proposal to close half of the Homes in Northern Ireland mirrors the recommendation for a 50% reduction in NHS residential care homes set out in the HSCB’s Transforming Your Care (TYC) document of 2013.

Commenting on the proposals on the homes’ closures, UNISON Regional Organiser, Joe McCusker said: “Today’s decision by the HSCB will come as a relief to those residents and their families not affected by the closures. However, for those homes that are identified for closure this will cause distress and alarm for residents in those homes knowing that they will be the last residents, while the local communities will be outraged that there will be no NHS residential care provision in their area.”

Mr. McCusker added, “ UNISON has been at the forefront of the campaign against the closure of NHS Residential Care Homes and we will continue our fight in partnership with local communities, residents and families to keep the homes open.”