Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA has said the report into the handling of complaints about safeguarding and care at Dunmurry Manor Care Home reinforces the need for a fully independent care home regulator.

The South Belfast MLA was speaking after the publication of the independent report. It found Dunmurry Manor’s owner, Runwood Homes, as well as the home, health Trusts and Patient and Client Council did not address the complaints of residents’ families.

It also stated Runwood Homes did not seek to engage with complainants to fully understand their complaints.

“Some of what appears in this review is scarcely believable, and my first thoughts are with the families of those in care, whose complaints were handled so poorly and who were themselves treated so badly,” said Ms Bradshaw.

“Among many other things, the review re-emphasises the Alliance position, put forward in our priorities and policies document only this week, that the role of the Patient Client Council and RQIA needs to be thoroughly revised.

“The review specifically refers to models elsewhere in the UK and in our view this, plus other recent major failings in administration and recruitment, demonstrate the need for a regulator with oversight of complaints which is entirely independent of the Department.

“I would call on the Minister to bring forward an implementation plan for all eight proposed actions in the report urgently, as well as a further apology to those affected. We must take every step we can to ensure it never happens again.”