Hussey in 'disgust' at lack of answers over underspend

West Tyrone MLA Ross Hussey is unimpressed by inactivity in hunt for answers over under-spend in Adult Learning Disability Services.

"There's many words I could use, but 'disgust' I think, should be the main one."

That's how Ulster Unionist assemblyman Ross Hussey, described his feelings at a lack of clarity and answers to questions surrounding under-spend in Adult Learning Disability Services in the Western Health and Social Care Trust area.

Two months on from an Adjournment debate at Stormont into the issue, the West Tyrone MLA is calling for an "adequate response" from the Health Minister, Michelle O'Neill, and the Western Trust.

"People with learning disabilities require our full support, and they're not getting it. Now, the Minister has promised a quick investigation - still no response - and the Trust still hasn't given an adequate response as to why for nearly 15-16 years adults with learning disabilites have been put to the back of the queue," he told Q radio.

"[The Trust] must answer the questions very quickly: we need to know how much exactly the under-spend is; when are they going to rectify it; and, what are they going to do to rectify it?"

"We have parents - some in their sixties, seventies, eighties and even nineties - who are looking after adults with learning disabilities and they're getting very little or no support. This needs to be done now," he said.

Asked about the state of mind that parents and carers must be in, in light of the situation, the veteran public representative was emphatic. He said he thought most loved-ones embroiled in the issue must at this stage be "very, very angry". 

The Omagh-based MLA then repeated his calls for action to be taken immediately:

"We build up their hopes, then we crash their hopes. It needs to be resolved and it needs to be resolved now. We can't allow this to drag on for another year, we can't afford for this to be dragged on into another financial year. The Minister, the Trust and the Department must all work hand-in-glove and come back to us with answers."