Coronavirus Northern Ireland: Department of Health urged to ‘address residential home concerns’ | Latest Newry News, Newry Sport and Newry Business for Newry City

Coronavirus Northern Ireland: Department of Health urged to ‘address residential home concerns’

Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard has called on the Department for Health to urgently address what he described as “growing fears within the residential and nursing home sector that they are being cut adrift” as the healthcare system responds to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking to Newry Times, the South Down MP said, “I’ve spoken with a number of care homes in recent days who are seriously worried that a dangerous lack of PPE has exacerbated the decision to withdraw GP and district nursing services, leaving this sector feeling increasingly vulnerable and isolated.

 

 

“Not only do we need to ensure appropriate PPE is made available to this sector, but a rapid response pathway must be agreed urgently with local health trusts to help meet the needs of our loved ones who are being cared for in these settings.

“It seems illogical that the Department of Health would expect support workers with no previous in-depth nursing skills to step into the gap and pick up delegated nursing duties, including the verification of expected deaths.

 

 

“Sinn Féin is raising these concerns with the Health Minister Robin Swann.

“In our endeavours to do all that we can for frontline NHS staff in our hospitals, we must not forget the huge variety of care homes and the frontline domiciliary care workers who provide a vital service at the coalface in the community,” he added.

 

 

 

Keep up to date with all the latest Northern Ireland Coronavirus / Covid-19 news HERE

 

Short URL: https://newrytimes.com/?p=69812

Posted by on Mar 31 2020. Filed under Coronavirus. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

Leave a Reply







Find us on Facebook

Log in | Designed by Gabfire themes