Ulster Unionist Health spokesperson, Roy Beggs MLA, says that the Health Minister, Edwin Poots should do another U-Turn and halt proposals to close the Residential Care Homes.
Mr Beggs said, “Edwin Poots should listen to what he is being told and do another U-Turn. He needs to make it clear to the elderly residents of the Residential Care Homes and their families that he will listen to their concerns so that they are not facing undue worry.
“The hypocrisy of Mr Poots and some of his colleagues on the closure of residential care homes has been quite simply breathtaking. According to the Newtownabbey Times four years ago, Mr Poots`s party colleague, Alastair Ross said, ‘the reality is that if elderly people did not have these facilities they would not get the same level of care, and would see their life expectancy dramatically decrease.' Mr Ross`s silence on Minister Poots` cuts to residential care homes has been deafening.
“The people of Northern Ireland made their voices heard in a public consultation on this issue four years ago. The then Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey listened to what they said. It`s time that Mr Poots did the same.”