Following the closure of Drumclay Nursing Home in Enniskillen on December 12th, and with the Graan Abbey Nursing Home not currently accepting new residents, it emerged a number of patients had been left with nowhere suitable to live in the area. These residents included 82-year-old Eamon McGullion, who is blind and has dementia. Mr McGullion was taken into SWAH, where he remained for Christmas, as there was no where else locally that could care for his needs. 

It has now emerged a total of 24 in-patients at either SWAH, the Omagh Hospital, or the Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital the week before Christmas who were there awaiting a care package either at home or in their local area. Of these, 12 were awaiting a dementia nurse placement, while seven were awaiting a dementia residential placement. The Western Trust stressed this waiting list position can change on a daily basis. 

Deputy chief executive of the Trust, Kieran Downey, said the Trust were working on the issue as part of the ongoing Pathfinder initiative.  

“Under the Pathfinder Project the Trust are undergoing a considerable engagement process where we will engage closely with this, and all, communities to determine the best future provision of residential and nursing care across the Fermanagh and West Tyrone region,” he said. 

Enniskillen Councillor Debbie Coyle and MLA Colm Gildernew recently met with senior management at the Trust to discuss the closure of Drumclay, after being contacted by families of residents. 

“Most are now satisfactorily rehomed. However, I had been asked to raise issues with the Trust,” said Cllr Coyle. 

“These issues have been taken on board and, whilst I share the families’ disappointment, I am satisfied that the Trust are working hard to resolve issues around dementia bed