Concerns about staffing issues at Dungannon respite facility

Mid Ulster District Council has been urged to play an active role in seeking to address staffing issues at Woodlawn House in Dungannon, a nursing facility providing vital respite to carers.

The issue of care provision for adults with complex needs is one which the Sinn Féin representative for Torrent DEA is keen to highlight, and she has spoken openly in the past about her own sister who is the parent of a young adult with specific needs.

Speaking at a recent meeting of Mid Ulster District Council, Councillor Nuala McLernon stated: “I want to raise here tonight the provision of adult respite – or should I say the lack of provision.

“Families have been in touch with me regarding the respite provision being cancelled at short notice, due to significant workforce challenges at Woodlawn House in Dungannon.

“This is an issue that I’ve repeatedly raised here. I brought a motion calling for more adequate respite provision for adults.

“I’ve pointed out repeatedly that the eight-bed facility in Dungannon is not sufficient to deal with the immense pressures, and the demand for these vital services within the Mid Ulster district and the Southern Trust area, and that more provision is needed.

“This is not a criticism of Woodlawn House or their staff, but again a call to the Department of Health and the Southern Trust to step up and deliver a service that is not only sustainable, but meets the needs of its service users.

“Families have received letters from the Southern Trust stating that Woodlawn is facing high levels of vacancies and high levels of [absenteeism] due to sickness.

“The Trust has given assurances that all has been done to assist Woodlawn, but I feel that we as a council need to step in.

“We owe it to the service users and the families and the staff of Woodlawn, to offer whatever advice and help we can to help them through this.

“I propose that we reach out to Woodlawn in the first instance, to offer to meet with them as a council, to see what we can do to help them overcome these workforce challenges, as well as make representation to the Southern Trust and the Department of Health [urging them] to step up to the plate.

“Respite for families should not be the solution. Families should not have to pay the price for a staffing crisis at a critically needed respite facility in our district.”

Cllr McLernon’s proposal was seconded by her party colleague Councillor Deirdre Varsani.