DERRY MLA Mark H Durkan has said that he is confident that the Western Trust will not proceed with the proposed withdrawal of respite services at the Cottages in Derry.
”Over the past six or seven weeks I have been in constant contact with the Health Minister and the Trust over this proposal which has caused great distress to the families affected and anger and confusion across the wider public in Derry and beyond,” he said.
“Last week I, along with my colleague Pat Ramsey, met the CEO of the Western Trust to reiterate not only our opposition to any reduction in respite services but also to engage constructively in seeking alternative solutions mindful of their own financial pressures.
“This week we again pressed the Minister on the need to retain this vital service for vulnerable children and their hard-pressed families.
“I was very pleased today after yet another conversation with Minister Wells during which he gave a fairly strong indication that a positive outcome could be imminent and that the Trust are actively working on the issue.”
That news can’t come soon enough for families in Derry who rely so much on The Cottages – and the dedicated staff there.
Sinn Fein MLA Maeve McLaughlin, who also lobbied Wells, said the proposed cuts would have saved less than £40,000.
It would have meant families whose children use the Waterside centre a few days a month would have had to have travelled to Omagh – where resources are double that of those in Derry.
Families who spoke to Derry Daily launched an online campaign to prevent the cuts.
Now it appears the Minister has ordered the Western Trust to roll back its planned cutbacks.
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