Trust 'spins web of deceit' over respite unit

By Iveren McCallion

A parents group whose children haven't had access to a respite unit for more than 9 months, say the Southern Trust is spinning them a 'web of deceit'.

Carrickore Parents Group told Q Radio they have tried unsuccessfully to resolve the deadlock, and have instead been left feeling 'blackmailed' and 'pressurised'. 

The group has been in meetings with Trust representatives and Newry and Armagh MLA Justin McNulty, in a bid to address the service standstill and be kept informed of progress in resuming it again.

At the most recent meeting, it was explained that Carrickore was being used by a small number of children who require 'intensive individual support', but that another unit was being prepared for them.

The parents told Q Radio that the Trust said it would be finalised on the 13th September, with a roll out of available dates at Carrickore being issued to parents from the 18th. That hasn't happened.

The Parents' Stories

The Trust has offered some of the Newry-based parents an alternative at a unit in Banbridge, a 30-mile round trip.

Michelle Wosford's son Nathan is 14 years-old and suffers from the rare genetic disorder, Hunter Syndrome. He's on the autism spectrum, has ADHD and a life-limiting condition.

She told us, she was given just 24 hours to come to a decision: 

Alicia Lennon was also offered places at the Banbridge unit for her sons, Keith who's 17 and 14 year-old Nathan who both have Autism. She doesn't drive and explained that the notion of settling her boys into a new facility would bring more problems than respite. She told us how difficult it was to settle her boys when they first started using Carrickore Respite Unit:

Philomena Feehan also relied on respite from Carrickore. Her son Ciaran who is 15 years old, has Global Developmental Delay and Autism. She told us that her father is in hospital in Drogheda at the moment. She visits him regularly, but without siblings to turn to and no respite care available, she's forced to take Ciaran with her on hospital visits:

Jim McDonnell, who chairs the parents group, has a 15 year-old daughter Caoimhe who uses a wheelchair. She has Downs Syndrome, suffers congenital conditions and is partially sighted. He says the biggest problem is the Trust doesn't communicate:

Losing a "lifeline"

The parents group got in touch with Newry and Armagh MLA Justin McNulty. Since meeting the Trust with the parents, Justin has written to the Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health, Richard Pengelly, and is waiting for his response:

The Southern Trust on the defensive

When Q Radio contacted the Southern Trust they did not address the questions put to them but issued this statement:

“We very much regret that all families have not been able to use Carrickore as often as they would like in recent months.

The resources in Carrickore are currently being directed towards a small number of children who require intensive individual support and we haven’t been able to offer a full overnight respite service.

We have worked hard to keep parents updated on the situation in Carrickore in many meetings, letters and phone calls with the Chair of the Carrickore Parents Group, parents and elected representatives.

Our staff have been working tirelessly to find options that would allow us to resume the full residential respite service at Carrickore as quickly as possible. They have also been exploring alternative ways of providing support and alternative services to parents and families until the service can resume.

Children and families with the highest levels of need have been prioritised and offered alternative short break/family support services options, including extra Direct Payments and where possible, the provision of a short breaks service at home by Carrickore staff.

Those families requiring most support have received up to 7 sessions since August and this will continue to be offered to families as an interim measure until Carrickore’s overnight short breaks can be reinstated.

Some parents have been given the option of potentially visiting a residential short break Unit elsewhere in the Trust to have a look and find out more. There is no obligation on these families to send their child to a different unit for a residential short break.

The Trust remains committed to ensuring a full resumption of Carrickore’s residential services in the very near future and we hope to have the continued support of parents through this challenging period.”