At Slieve Roe House today, Councillor Naomi Ballie, Chair of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council presented Ms Angela McVeigh, Director of Older People and Primary Care, Southern Health and Social Care Trust with the Council’s response to the Trust’s Consultation on the Future of Statutory Residential Care Homes.
The Council’s response strongly opposes the proposal to close Slieve Roe, which it believes will reduce the opportunities for choice for older people in the Kilkeel area and due to the limited availability of alternative residential provision in the local area will force Kilkeel residents to move outside their area for care.
The Slieve Roe facility is heavily used for respite care and its closure would have a detrimental impact on those individuals and families who depend on its services as it is unlikely they would be able to access alternative care within their local area.
In addition, the proposal does not take account of the impact the proposed closure of Slieve Roe would have on those who use the Donard Day Care facility which relies on Slieve Roe to provide catering and other back up services.
Councillor Ballie said: “The Council consulted with local people before preparing its response and the document I am handing over to the Trust represents the strongly held views of the community and the elected representatives of this area.
“We trust the Southern Health Trust will take account of these views and retain what is acknowledged to be an excellent facility providing a warm and caring environment for the older people of the Mournes area.”
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