Byrne Welcomes Announcement Greenfield to Remain Open

This week West Tyrone SDLP MLA Joe Byrne has welcomed the announcement that Greenfield Residential Home will remain open. This follows the news of Health Minister Edwin Poot’s U-Turn on the closure of statutory care homes following a relentless campaign by residents, families and the wider community.   

Welcoming the news Mr Byrne said ““This is, first and foremost, a victory for residents of care homes who fought a principled, justified and relentless campaign against the cuts and closure agenda of the Health Minister. The voices that matter most have finally been heard and as a result, they have influenced policy change for the better.”

“The only disappointment is that it took the Minister and the Department so long to take action. These residents should have been protected as a fundamental right. They should never have had to go through the trauma of facing what amounted to eviction from their home.”

“Greenfield home is a long established statutory home which has a good track record when it comes to catering for older people, who want to reside in a common shared centre. As a political party the SDLP are committed to the residents and all concerned with Greenfield Home. The residents and staff should not have had to experience uncertainty regarding their future.”

“The minister needs to start asking fundamental questions about how the trusts were able to take steps in implementing proposals, which were in direct conflict with the departmental policy contained in the Transforming Your Care document. The SDLP have had concerns in regards to this policy and will be calling on the minister to bring forward legislation to prevent the stealth privatisation of the health and social care system.”

“Whilst I welcome this belated decision by the Minister, there are serious questions which still need to be answered by the minister in regards to this policy and his department’s communication with the health trusts senior management."