Newry Armagh Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

MLA meets Trust on Home Help issue

Published: 31 July, 2009

Sinn Féin MLA for Newry/Armagh, Cathal Boylan, has met with members of the Southern Health Trust to discuss the issue of Home Helps in the Armagh City and District area.

'My office has been contacted on a number of occasions recently with concerned relatives and people who rely on this home help service, raising various issues. Therefore, I requested a meeting with Senior Management in Craigavon who oversee the service.

'The meeting was productive and helpful, and I am grateful to the Trust for explaining the rationale behind the changes being carried out. Mainly, they are trying to keep the distance travelled by home helps to a minimum so that there is less time spent travelling and more time spent caring for customers needs, this has meant some changes to the customers they attend.

'Whilst understanding this, I took the opportunity to raise concerns from a number of people from within the constituency who contacted me and felt that they were getting a reduced service, or in some cases, a service withdrawn altogether. They have agreed to look at a number of specific cases for me and when they have responded to me, I will be in touch with those individuals. I believe this is a very important service and while I can see the reasoning behind this review, I would hope there is no dilution or reduction of the level of care afforded."