Union welcomes decision by Minister to review plans for closure of twelve statutory nursing homes

Private sector failure demonstrates need for expanded role for statutory provision

November 24th: Unite Regional Officer with responsibility for Health, Kevin McAdam, expressed his concern for the elderly and vulnerable, as well as the workforce, who will be affected by the announcement of Four Seasons Healthcare that they will be closing seven Residential Care Homes across Northern Ireland:

“This announcement means that almost four hundred healthcare staff will face redundancy in the weeks running up to Christmas. That is devastating news for the workers concerned – many of whom are Unite members.

 “What’s perhaps more serious will be the impact on the elderly and vulnerable residents who will now have to be transferred to alternative accommodation – if such can be found for them. Unite is calling on the Health Minster to guarantee the residents that alternative statutory provision will be provided and that the difficulties around the transition between the two will be minimised.

“We welcome the decision by the Minister to review the proposed closure of twelve statutory residential homes in the context of this announcement. Unite has long maintained the Health Department should place greater reliance on the statutory care provision sector and we hope that this will mean a wider strategic reorientation away from private sector provision”, Mr McAdam concluded.