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Monthly Archives: May 2013
Poots Ignored Warnings about Residential Care Homes Last year: Beggs
Poots was warned of Care Home risks a year ago – Beggs Ulster Unionist Party Health spokesperson Roy Beggs MLA, has revealed that the Health Minister Edwin Poots ignored warnings received more than a year ago from the Commissioner for Older People in Northern Ireland in relation to the proposed closure ofResidential Care Homes in Carrickfergus, Larne and Newtownabbey. Mr Beggs said: “Vulnerable people living at the Greenisland, Joymount, Lisgarel and Clonmore Residential Homes will have been significantly distressed by the DUP Health Minister, Edwin Poots failure to follow the guidance given to him by the Older Person’s Commissioner. More than a year ago, on the 18th April 2012, Claire Keatinge the Commissioner for Older People in Northern Ireland handed a Briefing Note to the Health Minister at a meeting in Castle Buildings. The Agenda was listed as “Planned closure of statutory residential homes across Northern Ireland as identified in … Continue reading
Posted in Health Committee, Press Releases
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Beggs Calls for Government Support for Roddensvale Pool Project
Speaking during a debate at Stormont, Ulster Unionist Party MLA Roy Beggs Jnr has commended the work of teachers and classroom assistants working with children with special needs in Larne. He also praised the work of Acceptable Enterprises, and renewed his call for progress to be made on providing a hydrotherapy pool at Roddensvale Special School. Mr Beggs described the Hydrotherapy Pool at Roddensvale as “A Shovel- ready project” which deserves the attention of the Stormont Executive, given the shelving of the A5 Road project. The East Antrim MLA said: “I commend the teachers and classroom assistants in all our schools in Larne, primary and secondary, for the work that they do in assisting children with special needs. I commend in particular those who work in Roddensvale special school, and the people of Larne universally appreciate their work. Anyone who visits the school cannot but be impressed by it and … Continue reading
Asthma Care Campaign Launched at Stormont
Ulster Unionist MLA for East Antrim Roy Beggs Jnr attended a World Asthma Day event at Stormont this week where Asthma UK Northern Ireland launched the Compare Your Care campaign, to help people with asthma find out if they are getting the care they deserve. Speaking at the launch, Mr Beggs who is a member of the Stormont Health Committee said: “It is interesting to learn that every year in Northern Ireland, over 1,700 people are hospitalised because of a potentially fatal asthma attack, yet three quarters of hospital admissions could be prevented with the right care and management. Local pharmacists can play a key role in monitoring and advising patients on the effective treatment of Asthma enabling a better life experience and reducing the need for emergency treatment.” From May 2013, community pharmacies will be contracted to offer ‘Medicines Use Reviews’ (MURs) for the first time in Northern Ireland. … Continue reading
Edwin Poots ‘ignored’ commissioner’s warning on the effects of badly managing …
Health minister Edwin Poots 14 May 2013 The older people’s commissioner warned Health Minister Edwin Poots about closing residential care homes a year ago, it has been revealed. Claire Keatinge told the minister that a timetable for the changes should have been set out and overseen by his department on a regional basis during a briefing more than a year ago. He has apologised “unreservedly” for stress felt by the residents of homes due to shut and halted the process for six months after health trusts announced the controversial step recently. UUP MLA Roy Beggs said: “Bearing in mind that the health minister was warned of the potential pitfalls more than a year ago, it is even more incredible that he permitted the disaster which emerged in the last fortnight to occur. The commissioner for older people gave him 12 months’ warning of what could go wrong. That the minister … Continue reading
‘Appalling lack’ of special needs provision in Larne area
East Antrim MLAs have paid tribute to local voluntary groups for their work with people with special needs and disabilities, but claimed the borough has been ignored by statutory bodies. And they have appealed to Employment and Learning Minister, Dr Stephen Farry to take steps to address the issue. Sinn Fein representative Oliver McMullan, who is himself the father of a child with special needs, secured a debate on the matter at the Assembly recently. Speaking directly to the Minister, Mr McMullan said there are many families who have serious concerns regarding the “minimal services” in the borough for children and adults with special needs. He said parents are asking themselves: “What will happen when my child leaves school? Where will they go? What can they do?” Mr McMullan praised the two “excellent” special needs units in Larne – Roddensvale and Larne Adult Centre – but said “much more needs … Continue reading
