Does Poots Still Stand Over Northern Trust Closures?
03 May 2013
Statement by TUV leader and North Antrim MLA Jim Allister:
“Last Wednesday (24th April) the Northern Trust announced that it was set to close all of its residential care homes. On Thursday (25th April) the Southern Trust announced a similar move. On Friday (26th April) I tabled a motion proposed by the present Health Minister in February 2009 opposing the closure of NHS residential homes when Michael McGimpsey held the portfolio. In the following day’s paper Minister Poots defended the actions of the Trusts robustly saying: “What is different now is that there actually is a policy in place to provide better care for our elderly population and create packages allowing them to stay where they want to stay”.
“So it wasn’t just the Trusts on Saturday. Rather, the Minister was robustly defending their actions!
“Now the Minister would have us believe that the Trusts all acted without his foreknowledge and agreement. That he was totally opposed to what they were suggesting.
“The question, therefore, is if the Trusts where acting without the Ministers agreement and in fact outside the guidance issued by his department why did he defend them less than a week ago?
“The Minister’s pleas of ignorance and of out of control Trusts acting without his go ahead sound bazaar – particularly when contrasted with his comments just a few days ago when he defended the closures.
“He is the Minister and as he and his colleagues so frequently reminded his predecessor the buck stops with him.
“If Minister Poots is truly remorseful over the care home debacle, then while he considers his position, as he ought, let him withdraw the supposed consultations.”
