No cuts, no closures, no compulsory redundancies pledge as Belfast Trust launches new round of consultation

Belfast Health and Social Care Trust today called on people in the city to help it shape the services it provides in the future.

The Excellence and Choice consultation documents are available in the involving You section of the website

Inviting the widest possible discussion on future services for older people and those with mental health problems, Chief Executive William McKee said that despite the tough economic climate and a requirement from the Assembly to make efficiency savings, the Trust was standing firm on its pledge that there will be no cuts in services, no closures unless better arrangements are in place and no compulsory redundancies among the valued staff who provide the services.

“We’re talking about people not buildings, Mr McKee said. “Therefore we have set out to involve the people of Belfast in how we shape services in the future.

“We have written down the suggestions of staff and other professionals closely involved in running these services and we now want to test these with the wider public in a consultation process that will run until March 26. We hope Belfast people will give us a fair hearing.”

Among the suggestions being made in the Excellence and Choice consultation documents is the one proposing that the Trust should begin to reduce the number of permanent admissions to residential homes that don’t offer specialist support eg for dementia.

“People are already demonstrating that they prefer the option of more support in their own homes to the idea of living in a communal setting.” Mr McKee said

“People currently living in these types of homes need not worry – no-one is planning to move them out – and no decisions on their care will be taken without their consent. But we’re looking to what people will want in the future

“On the issue of mental health, the consultation papers look at different ways of providing a range of support – again with a major emphasis on more support in people’s own homes and in the community rather than in old buildings that are not fit for purpose.

“We are proposing to meet people’s needs in a better way, use and plan our buildings more effectively and save the money the Assembly has asked for – and we can do it with the community’s understanding and support.” Mr McKee said

The Excellence and Choice consultation documents are available on the Trust’s website – www.belfasttrust.hscni.net.

They cover:

Printed copies can also be obtained by writing to Public Liaison (Stakeholder Communications) Nore Villa, Knockbracken Healthcare Park, Saintfield Road

Belfast BT8 8BH or by emailing stakeholdercomms@belfasttrust.hscni.net

Responses to the Excellence and Choice documents can either be emailed to stakeholdercomms@belfasttrust.hscni.net or sent to Public Liaison (Stakeholder Communications) Nore Villa, Knockbracken Healthcare Park, Saintfield Road, Belfast BT8 8BH.