Currently the Western Health and Social Care Trust operates Community Equipment Stores in Derry, Enniskillen and Omagh, which provide thousands of patients of all ages with items they need to live independently in their own homes well as providing clients with continence products.  

 

At the minute, each of these stores operates independently from each other, however under the new plans, set to be implemented soon, the store will be centralised at Campsie in Derry, with two sub-stores in Fermanagh and Omagh which will deliver equipment to users homes, while the continence products will also be delivered via a home delivery service. 

 

The Trust developed the new scheme, which will be led by the non-Trust bodies Business Service Organisation (BSO) and the Procurement and Logistics Service (PaLS), after extensive consultation. 

 

However, the Herald has spoken to one member of staff at one of the Enniskillen and Omagh stores who said the public were “sold a story” during this consultation process three years ago.

 

“It was a made-to-measure consultation,” said the staff member, who wished to remain anonymous. “Seeing what was sold to the public and what is coming to fruition are two very different things.” 

 

They explained users, who can currently call into their local stores for the equipment they need, would have to order their products from an online catalogue in advance, while those availing of the home delivery continence service would also have to order 5-10 days in advance. They said this would cause problems for patients and carers alike. 

 

“In the last week ago clients have been getting letters to come in to get the supplies they need until the home deliver service starts,” they said.

“We’ve been getting a lot of calls.

 

“One of the big things that sold it during the consultation four years ago was the home deliver continence service, but it’s emerging that people don’t want their pads dropped off at their front door, there’s a confidentiality issue there. They are generally older, so what if they can’t get to the door? Also, what if they don’t remember to order in advance?”

 

The staff member said “people are worried” and district nurses and occupational therapists were “in full panic mode” at the minute, and were concerned ordering in advance online would mean they can’t test or measure the equipment they are picking up. 

 

“They are worried about, for example, if they have a terminally ill patient and their needs change over night, where will they get the equipment they need. They are all getting stocked up right now.”

 

The staff member added they believed the Trust had underestimated the size of Fermanagh and Tyrone, and said it was about keeping these services in rural areas. 

 

“The service helps keep people out of hospital,” they said. “There is a huge sense here that that is being taken away. This is all completely uncharted territory.”

 

Vincent Ryan, assistant director of Primary and Community Care, Western Trust defended the new system: “Providing community equipment is a significant factor in preventing inappropriate or unnecessary hospital admission and it is a key component of the care package required to facilitate timely discharge from hospital. 

 

“We are delighted that this new model for community equipment can provide a more efficient service to the population throughout the Western Trust area.

 

“The new home delivery of continence products will bring greater efficiency and support to users and delivery will take place at a convenient time.”

 

The staff member who spoke to the Herald also said the six staff at the Enniskillen store and the four staff at the Omagh store had been told arrangements would be made for them, some were still uncertain for their futures. 

 

A spokesperson for the Trust said: “All Trust staff employed within the old service model have been accommodated either via internal transfer within Trust, secondment within Trust, transfer to BSO or via the voluntary exit scheme.”