Northern Ireland’s newly-appointed Health Minister has been urged to prioritise addressing domiciliary care amid claims “deeply concerning figures” in the Southern Trust was putting additional strain on families and the sector as a whole.
Robbie Butler took over the Health portfolio at Stormont on Thursday following the resignation of outgoing Minister Mike Nesbitt.
With the appointment in place, Newry and Armagh MLA Gareth Wilson urged the new Minister to make “stabilising and strengthening” domiciliary care services an “immediate priority”.
The DUP representative said he is regularly contacted by constituents who are struggling to access the care and support they require to remain safely and independently in their own homes.
Mr Wilson congratulated Minister Butler in his new role as he “takes on one of the most challenging briefs in government”.
But he added: “From day one, there are a number of critical issues that require urgent attention, and domiciliary care must be among them.
“I am contacted on a regular basis by constituents who are facing significant difficulties in having their care needs met. Many families are under immense pressure as they try to support loved ones while waiting for the care package they need or for additional support to become available.
“Domiciliary care is not simply another service within our health system. For thousands of vulnerable people, it is the support that allows them to remain in their own homes, maintain their independence and enjoy a better quality of life. When that support is unavailable or insufficient, the consequences can be devastating not only for those individuals, but also for their families and carers.
“Recent Assembly Questions that I submitted to the Department of Health regarding domiciliary care provision within the Southern Health and Social Care Trust have revealed deeply concerning figures. The information provided points to significant pressures within the system and highlights the scale of the challenges that must be addressed.
“These figures should serve as a wake-up call. We cannot continue to accept a situation where people who have been assessed as needing care are left facing uncertainty about when support will be available. Equally, we cannot ignore the strain being placed on dedicated care workers who are doing their very best in extremely difficult circumstances.”
“The new Minister has an opportunity to put domiciliary care on a more stable footing by ensuring the resources, workforce planning and long-term strategy are in place to meet growing demand. This is not an issue that can be left to drift. It requires leadership and decisive action.”
Mr Wilson urged the Minister to “engage with Trusts, care providers, frontline staff and service users” to develop “sustainable solutions that improve access to domiciliary care and provide confidence to those who rely upon these services”.
“Vulnerable people and their families deserve nothing less,” he added, while pledging to continue to press the Department of Health for action to improve domiciliary care provision and “ensure that those who require support receive it in a timely and effective manner”.
