​​​​​​​Permanent Secretary announces closure of Muckamore Abbey Hospital – UNISON warn alternatives must be adequately resourced.

Permanent Secretary announces closure of Muckamore Abbey Hospital – UNISON warn alternatives must be adequately resourced.

UNISON, the largest trade union for health care workers in Northern Ireland is calling on the Department of Health to secure the necessary resources for alternative treatments and care in the community following yesterday’s announcement by Peter May, Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health, to close Muckamore Abbey Hospital by June 2024.

UNISON Regional Organiser, Joe McCusker, says: “Before the closure of Muckamore Abbey Hospital, there must be alternative assessment and treatment services in place to be able to respond to the current and future needs of those with mental health and learning disabilities.  Crucially this will require massive investment in NHS community and social care services such as homecare, crisis response and other peripatetic services, and the NHS workforce to effectively provide these services. UNISON will be seeking assurances from the Department of Health that the funding and the workforce is in place for any new model of service delivery for people with mental health and learning disabilities.

Mr. McCusker continues: “Our focus now will be on on supporting staff impacted by the closure of Muckamore Abbey, to ensure Belfast Health Trust provide suitable redeployment options.”

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