The proposal by the South Eastern Health Trust to close Grove House Ballynahinch is a disgraceful breach of community trust as it come after we were given assurances by the Trust that no further cut in statutory residential care would be made in the Down area. The Trust say this closure will be to the benefit of the community. Let us be clear, this closure is about saving money not about improving health care. Time and time again the Department of Health assure us that front line services will not be affected by these “efficiency savings” and yet here we have another community facing the loss of statutory residential care.

This proposal if accepted will not only result in the loss of statutory residential care in Ballynahinch, but will leave dementia care in a state of serious neglect. The Trust themselves in this consultation document make he point that only some dementia care will be available at Ardview House.

The Health Trust’s spin about care in the community will not be accepted as we all know that too often the current level of care in the community falls below what is required for many elderly people, with many requiring many more visits than the Trust have allocated to their care package. Further to this care in the community is not the answer for all of our elderly, many of whom have no family living close by and for those living in remote rural areas, being put to bed by their carers, sometimes as early as 6.30/7pm due to the pressures faced by the care workers, this can be a very frightening and lonely existence. For these elderly people, of whom there are many statutory residential care would b the option best suited to their needs.
The Trust must begin to protect our health services not assist the department of Health in eroding front line services. The needs of the community are paramount not the short-term financial needs of the Department of Health.