Paula Bradshaw MLA, Alliance Party Health Spokesperson, has stated that she is deeply concerned about on-going governance, staffing and safeguarding issues within Muckamore Abbey Hospital, following the issuing by the RQIA of three improvement notices against Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (16th August 2019).

Ms Bradshaw said, “In December 2018, the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health met with families of patients who are subject to the on-going police inquiry, and assured them that urgent work would be undertaken to improve all aspects of care and treatment in Muckamore. Yet, here, we find that despite three visits from the RQIA between February and July, they have found six areas of concern, and the Regulator is now having to issue three Improvement Notices to BHSCT.

“When are the patients going to receive the care and treatment that they deserve? When is the Department of Health and Belfast Health & Social Care Trust going to move beyond platitudes and start adequately addressing fundamental issues pertaining to the operational management of this facility?

“I thank all the staff in Muckamore Abbey Hospital who continue to provide essential healthcare to the patients during these challenging times; and I sincerely hope that plans are progressing with pace to deliver upon the Department of Health’s pledge, again of December 2018, that the long-term Muckamore patients will be resettled in more suitable, alternative accommodation by the end of 2019.”