UUP councillor backs cross-borderdetox co-operation

Councillor Hussey said: “I welcome the pragmatic approach being shown by Councillor Quigley wherein, like myself I believe, his concern is not with where detoxification services are provided but rather that they be available to those in need.

“Currently the Trust has excellent facilities at the Tyrone and Fermanagh in Omagh and these should be retained and enhanced. That said, I fully support Councillor Quigley in his call for people in the northern part of our District Council area to be granted access to the White Oaks Addiction Centre just across the Border in Donegal.

“Councillor Quigley demonstrated the support within Londonderry for this issue to be addressed and indeed the then Health Minister, Edwin Poots, had, I understand, instructed Departmental officials to liaise with their Southern counterparts in this regard.

“I trust that the new Minister, Jim Wells, will continue with what is logical and mutually beneficial co-operation, merely reciprocation of other service provision already enjoyed by Southern citizens at Altnagelvin.”

The Castlederg Councillor concluded: “I reiterate what I believe to be the important point of the debate - it is not where a facility may be but that the service is accessible to vulnerable folk in our District when needed.”