Omagh residential home faces closure
Thursday, 13 November 2008
Gortmore House, Derry Road, Omagh, one of four residential homes earmarked for closure by the Western Health and Social Care Trust. AN4690
by Karen McPhilemy.
'WE will fight this appalling travesty on our community tooth and nail', a relative of a Gortmore House resident has vowed, following the 'shock' news that the facility has been earmarked for closure, subject to consultation.
The possible closure of the NHS-funded residential home on Omagh's Derry Road was officially announced on Monday, when three senior staff from the Western Health and Social Care Trust visited the facility to brief staff, residents and relatives on proposals "to reform statutory residential care home provision" under the Trust's Comprehensive Spending Review.
The 26-year-old facility - currently catering for 28 residents - is just one of four public residential homes across the Western Trust now facing an uncertain future, with Greenfield Residential Home in Strabane, Drumhaw in Lisnaskea, and Foyleville in Londonderry, also facing the axe.
During the meeting at Gortmore House, officials told of the Trust's proposal to close the facility to residents as of September 30, 2009, with a formal consultation due to begin on December 15. Although the Trust emphasised that the proposals "may be changed based on ... feedback from the consultation", residents and their families are less than convinced.
Decision
A letter was also circulated to residents, stating that the decision had been taken following a 'review of the care and accommodation services provided for older people across the Western Trust area', carried out by the Trust in 2007, in conjunction with the Western Health and Social Services Board.
The letter said that one of the key views expressed by older people in the review was that they wished to be 'supported to remain at home in a safe, warm environment'.
“The Trust has developed a range of services within the community that now focus on enabling people to remain in their own homes so as to avoid them having to move into residential care. As a result, the number of people being admitted to the Trust's residential homes is steadily decreasing," the letter read.
In light of these factors, it said, the Trust now proposes to reduce the number of residential care homes it provides.
‘Scandalous'
The latest plans have angered many within the community, with local politicians branding the possible move as 'scandalous'.
Speaking to the Tyrone Constitution on Monday, a relative of a 100-year-old Gortmore House resident, said she would do everything possible to prevent the closure.
Describing the proposal as 'appalling and reprehensible', Mrs Rosemary Parsons said the news had come as a 'terrible shock'.
Accusing the Trust of 'short-changing' the people of Omagh in 'every aspect of quality of care', Mrs Parson's vowed to fight the plans 'tooth and nail'.
“It's a travesty what's happening in our community in Omagh. Losing the hospital is one thing, but to lose Gortmore House is something else. We are being short changed in every aspect of quality of care. The health service here is being destroyed. It's appalling and reprehensible," she said.
“Three Trust officials at Gortmore House on Monday could give no answers as to the long term care of our residents in Gortmore.
“My aunt, who will turn 101 years of age in January, has been a resident in that home since 2003 and now she has to be moved to a private home where the quality of care will not come close to the way she's looked after in the NHS," Mrs Parson claimed. "It's all about saving money.
‘Angry'
“We are just so angry. We are all very distressed and confused. Everyone was in a state of shock at the meeting, as it was the first day we were officially told of the proposals. They [the Trust] say they held a review with residents prior to this, but I was never made aware of it.
“It was an insult to come here and tell us they are holding proposals for closure, when we all know that they are going to close it anyway. They closed our hospital, so why would it be any different for a residential home," she said.
“I really feel for the residents, because if this goes ahead the quality of care they are currently getting will be reduced, affecting the health of people like my aunt. Right now our priority is the residents, we need to know what long-term care will be available for them. These people built up our community and made it what it is today, and this is the way they are being treated?"
Branding the proposal as a form of 'state abandonment of the elderly', Omagh district councillor, Bert Wilson, said the council would be writing a letter to the Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey, outlining their 'total objection' to the proposal.
West Tyrone MLA., Allan Bresland, also expressed his 'dismay' over the news and said he had tabled a question with the Health Minister, seeking assurances regarding the future of the homes facing closure.
Accusing the Trust of 'penny-pinching' with 'little care' for the elderly residents and their families, Mr Bresland said he had also written to the chief executive of the Western Trust over the issue.
Decreasing numbers
Meanwhile, in a statement this week, a spokesperson for the Western Trust highlighted the 'steadily decreasing' numbers of residents at the home and the age of the building as being among the main reasons for the proposal.
The spokesperson said Gortmore House had a current resident population of 28 out of a capacity of 39, and that the home itself 'did not meet' the new standards for residential homes in terms of its design and physical environment.
“For those who continue to require residential care, the Trust will commission these services from the independent sector. Within the Omagh area, older people will be supported in their own homes by a range of existing and new services funded by the re-investment of savings achieved. These services will include enhanced domiciliary care, community rehabilitation and day care services with integrated teams providing specialist support to those with long-term conditions," added the spokesperson.
“The number of people being admitted to the Trust's residential homes is steadily decreasing. In light of these decreasing numbers and the move towards providing services which will enable people to remain in their own homes, which is their expressed wish, the Trust now proposes to reduce the number of residential care home places it provides.
“The Trust stresses that these are proposals and will be subject to full consultation.
Residents and staff were advised that formal consultation on the proposals in relation to the four homes will commence during December 2008 and they would have an opportunity to make their views know as part of the consultation process."
