After visiting The Roddens Care Home with Cllr William Blair, TUV leader Jim Allister said the ongoing attempt to shut this statutory home was scandalous.
“This is not just a statutory care home, it is home to real people. Yet, the Trust and DHSSPS clearly want to close it. The tactic is to do so by stealth; the strategy is to run it down by denying new admissions. Whereas, if there was a genuine consultation it would be on the basis of allowing on-going admissions so as to test demand and the resulting service provided, but instead the scales have been loaded against the Roddens by denying fresh admissions, so that it can run down. That is what I mean by closure by stealth.
“Moreover, the Health minister this week in the Assembly couched his assurance that no one would be forced out of statutory homes by making it conditional on it being safe for them to stay there. The ploy is obvious. At some point by running down staff and services the minister and trust will proclaim it is no longer safe for residents to stay and they will be moved.
“From talking to staff and residents it is clear The Roddens is doing an excellent job and meeting a definite need. Thus, the campaign to save The Roddens has my full support. With the DUP in control of Health there is a particular responsibility on that party to play fair and do right by The Roddens and its elderly residents.”
Cllr Blair added, “It would be a crying shame to shut The Roddens. It is ideally situated, doing a great job with great staff and contented residents. My message to Minister Hamilton and the Trust is “hands off The Roddens”.