Rehabilitation unit to remain in Larne
Wednesday, 26 November 2008
The Minister for Health Michael McGimpsey has announced plans to invest £29million in capital over the next three years to improve health and social care services and facilities in the Northern Trust area.
The Minister also revealed during his visit to Inver House last Wednesday (November 19) that An acute rehabilitation and palliative care unit for elderly patients is to be retained.
Visiting staff and patients on the visit, the Minister said: "I know that services provided at Inver House are highly valued by the local community. I also fully appreciate that when families have relatives who need rehabilitation or palliative care it is a huge bonus if they can be accommodated in their local area.
“I am therefore pleased to announce that 18 beds will be retained here at Inver House and the unit will continue to provide rehabilitation and palliative care. Not only will services be maintained, but facilities will be refurbished to improve surroundings for those using Inver House in the future. The upper floor of Inver House will be converted to provide a facility for the relocation of rehabilitation teams working in the Larne area."
The minister added: "All of this is good news for the local community and particularly for those using the facility.
“For the longer term I can reveal that there will be a Health and Care Centre in the Larne area. While it is too early today to be specific on the detail of the design, it will provide a valuable focal point of Health and Social Care services to the community."
Praising the role of the local community, including the Northern Board and local political representatives, in contributing to the development of rehabilitation and palliative care services in the area, Michael McGimpsey said: "This development is the result of a consultation process initiated by the Northern Board. I am pleased that they have been able to develop this proposal which has the support of the community and local medical staff.
“I am confident that direct access to the services provided in Inver House will improve health and care outcomes for patients. Additional community care packages will also ensure that no-one who is well enough to leave hospital will have to remain in hospital."
Mr McGimpsey also added that 'the community-led campaign' to keep Inver House open meant that people's needs and demands had to be met, and the best way to do that is here, on site. I must pay tribute to the staff and those who work on site here for all the efforts they have made. We are currently rolling out 50 Health and Care Centres - four of which are open in Belfast and there is money left aside from Larne - hopefully in three years we will see things fully developed. The process is in the design, and then we have the contract process so I will come back to Larne at a later date and have more information on the plans then".
New Health and Care Centres for Trust area
The funding to improve health and social care services in the Northern Trust area, is part of a total planned investment of £175million over the next ten years.
Michael McGimpsey said on the funding: "I will continue to invest funds where improved health and social care services are needed for the people of the Northern Trust area.
“Key projects include new Health and Care Centres for the Larne, Carrickfergus and Ballymena areas; redevelopments of facilities at Whiteabbey, Mid Ulster and Antrim Hospitals, and a new mental health in-patient facility for the Trust area."
The Minister said: "This announcement of £175million over the next ten years is another example of how I am investing in our health and social care services. I have worked with all the Health Boards and Trusts to identify key priorities for the next ten years. By continuing to invest in our services we are ensuring that we have a first class health and social care service which continues to put patients first."
On the adjournment of the proposal of Princes Gardens Children's Home in the town, Mr McGimpsey said: "At the moment, this is just a proposal, there will be a consultation process and I will listen carefully to what is said at that consultation process.
“We want to have a big emphasis on fostering, and there is money in the budget to help carers. I believe that children who are in a home deserve are entitled to the same things as those in foster care.
“Hopefully in the future, with the emphasis on foster care, we will not need as many homes, but this doesn't mean that we are going to close homes and leave children abandoned", the Minister added.
