Minister announces consultation on plans to close 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 Health Minister, Robin Swann, to secure the necessary resources for alternative treatments and care in the community given his intention to close Muckamore Abbey Hospital.

UNISON Regional Organiser, Joe McCusker, says: “Before any decision is taken to close 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 - should the decision be taken to close Muckamore Abbey Hospital - from the Health Minister 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 will also be on supporting those staff impacted, if the decision is taken to close Muckamore Abbey, and we will be seeking to meet with Belfast HealthTrust to assess the implications for staff.”