The Western Health Trust’s apology for abuse suffered by residents of Ralphs Close residential home has been described as “too little, too late.”
Pat Ramsey MLA
Derry SDLP MLA Pat Ramsey, chairperson the Assembly’s All Party Group on Learning Disability, said the scale of the investigation into abuse AT the home was “extremely worrying.”
Describing the investigation’s findings as “shameful, shocking and disturbing,” he said the Trust’s apology to the families for any distressed caused was “too little, too late” for both the residents subjected to abuse and for their loves ones who had spent “endless hours,” stressed and worried.
Mr Ramsey added:“Families of residents in Ralph’s Close placed their faith and trust in the health system. They believed their loved ones were being cared for with compassion and dignity in a secure and safe environment; where they would come to no harm, but the system has failed them.
“Abuse – physical, psychological or verbal – must never be tolerated, but to think this was levelled at some of the most vulnerable people in our society; some who have no voice and can’t speak for themselves, is shameful.”
He said the onus is now on the Western Trust to “live up to its duty and expectation that those in its care must be protected.”
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