The Alliance Party has said questions must be answered after an investigation revealed a ‘horrific catalogue of failings’ at Dunmurry Manor Care Home.
The care home was the first in Northern Ireland to be probed by the Older Person’s Commissioner, with a full investigation into the site operated by the Runway Homes Group detailing the appalling circumstances those spending their last days at the facility had gone through.
Alderman Stephen Martin – who attended the report findings today – said: “I am utterly appalled by what I heard in this report. It is absolutely unacceptable that people have been allowed to live in these conditions in the Lisburn area. My thoughts are with anyone who has had to endure such conditions – but now we must turn to action to ensure such failures are never able to happen again.
“With findings described as ‘disturbing’ and a ‘horrific catalogue of failings’, we can only imagine the horror that went on behind closed doors, raising direct questions around the effectiveness of RQIA and the other care homes they have deemed to be of an acceptable standard. Corrective action must be taken.”
Health Spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA added: “I note and accept also the recommendation for an Adult Safeguarding Bill, which is required urgently – but of course cannot happen because others are refusing to take responsibility to enable legislation for Northern Ireland to be passed. This is an example of administrative failure but will also soon be an example of political failure if a legislative assembly of some form is not swiftly restored.
“Fundamentally this is an issue of people’s human dignity being taken from them. It will require people to take responsibility to put it right, and to ensure families that this is not being repeated and cannot be repeated.”