John Coyle SDLP representative
THERE has been widespread criticism over the Western Trust’s decision to slash auxiliary care nurses’ hours in Fermanagh leaving seriously ill patients without the care they desperately need.
Shockingly, the onus was left on these nurses to break the devastating news to families that the few hours of care they receive each week will be cut with immediate affect.
It is thought that dozens of families across Fermanagh will be hit by the news meaning elderly and vulnerable people who require round-the-clock care will lose all entitlement to spending a few hours a week with their care nurses.
These few hours provided respite for the patient’s family who often have to look after their sick relative seven days a week.
The move has shocked care workers and local councillors who say that no prior warning was given to staff members about the impending decision.
However, a spokesman for the Western Trust denied any cuts to carers’ hours.
In a statement released yesterday it said: “There has been no cuts to the time that auxiliary care nurses spend with their patients at the South West Acute Hospital.
“During 2012 and 2013 the trust has been working in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DARD) on an initiative focused on tackling poverty and social exclusion issues, particularly for clients in rural areas.
“Funding for this initiative came to an end on March 31, 2013. The initiative is now being evaluated with any time limited support made available through the initiative being reviewed and reduced.
“In the absence of further clarity the Trust will be not commenting further.”
However, a Belleek woman who looks after her seriously ill husband said she relies heavily on the few hours of relief she gets each week.
The woman, who doesn’t want to be named, said: “For my mental health I relied on this care. I look after my husband 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week.
“Out of 168 hours a week, I got three and a half hours which I was very grateful for as it allowed me to keep my sanity.
“It helped me to relax knowing I had someone I could trust and reliable to look after my husband and tend to his needs while I was not there.
“I hope social services take these issues on board and help families cope with pressure of caring for family members in the home.”
The news was relayed to nurses last Thursday, who were initially told by their employers the hours would be cut in half. But the following day they were then told the hours would be cut completely and were given no explanation for the decision.
A Fermanagh auxiliary care nurse who has worked for the Western Trust for over 30 years said it was an “absolute disgrace”.
“These are elderly people who are very sick and need their partners or families to look after them,” she said.
“Those two hours a week are vital to our patient’s family as it gives them a chance to get out and do simple things like buy food or visit a friend.
“I’m not even sure if this is a long term thing as we are completely in the dark over this.
“One of my clients has Alzheimer’s and is looked after all day, every day by his son, I visit a few hours each week so he can go off and do shopping or get his hair cut.
“It was unbelievable and the stress that it causes to families is unacceptable.
“There was no hint that this was ever going to happen, it was sprung on us out of nowhere.
Fermanagh SDLP representative John Coyle said: “It is an absolute disgrace that the needs of families have been neglected in making this change to the service they receive.”
To read more.. Subscribe to current edition
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere