Presbyterians tell Health Minister that residential homes are a vital option; 87 politicians oppose children’s heart surgery move; Sharp rise in Ulster child poverty predicted; Funeral of Archdeacon; MU annual marathon effort; Choir member wins prestigious award
Presbyterians tell Health Minister that residential homes are a vital option
The Presbyterian Church’s Board of Social Witness has told Health Minister Edwin Poots that residential homes are a ‘vital option’ in providing a comprehensive caring service for Older People.
In a letter sent to Mr. Poots last Friday, 2nd May, the Board expressed its concern regarding the high level of anxiety recent statements about the future of statutory residential care for the elderly had created within the elderly community and for their families.
“Residential care is a vital option in the overall care of Older People,” stated the Board, “not needed by everyone in this age group, but essential for a percentage of those who are assessed as needing this level of care.
“It is essential that a range of care options are retained for this growing valued section of our community. Northern Ireland can lead the way inproviding a comprehensive service for older people – the balance of care at home, supported housing, respite care, residential and nursing care!”
Signed by the Board’s convener, Rev. Bobby Liddle and the Presbyterian Church’s Director of Social Service, Lindsay Conway, the letter also criticised the Department of Health for its use of the term ‘Institutional Care’ rather that ‘Residential Care’ which it said placed “a stigma on a service that strives to be caring and a home from home for all who come through the doors of any residential or nursing home.”
In concluding its letter the Board of Social Witness, which provides a range of care forOlder People, offering over 250 bed spaces at eight locations around Northern Ireland, assured the Minister of its desire to play a full role in the future care of this growing sector of our community and invited Mr. Poots to visit its homes and to see at first hand the work that the Presbyterian Church is doing in this area.
A full text of the letter follows:
Dear Minister
The Presbyterian Board of Social Witness wishes to place on record our concern that the recent statements regarding the future of statutory residential care for the elderly have become a “political football” and have succeeded in creating a high level of anxiety within the elderly community and that of their families.
Residential care is a vital option in the overall care of Older People, not needed by everyone in this age group, butessential for a percentage of those who are assessed as needing this level of care.
It is so easy at times of reviews and consultations to make the words fit the argument, but in recent days the multiple statements have raised major issues within the whole sector; and in recent years your Department has referred to Residential Care as Institutional Care, placing a stigma on a service that strives to be caring and a home from home for all who come through the doors of any residential or nursing home.
The Board of Social Witness provides a range of care for Older People, offering over 250 bed spaces. We play an important role in the life of the communities we serve, in some instances we have done for over 60 years. We want to play our full role in the future care of this growing group of older people.
Minister, it is essential that a range of care options are retained for this growing valued section of our community. Northern Ireland can lead the way in providing a comprehensive service for older people – the balance of care at home, supported housing, respite care, residential and nursing care! We would extend an invitation for you to visit us and to see at first hand the work that we do, assuring you that we will respond to all consultations and make every attempt to address the numerous challenges that are ahead of us all as we deliver our services.
87 politicians oppose children’s heart surgery move
New Letter – Eighty-seven Northern Ireland MLAs have pledged to vote against any move to remove children’s congenital heart surgery from Belfast, it was revealed.
The petition was launched by the Children’s Heartbeat Trust, which is lobbying Northern Ireland Health Minister Edwin Poots to preserve the relatively rare service at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.
Recently the health authorities recommended operations for youngsters with birth defects should take place in Dublin using enhanced north/south transport links because of the dwindling number of specialist procedures carried out north of the border.
The decision will need to be approved by Stormont Health Minister Mr Poots.
Robin Swann MLA, father of a three-month-old son who is awaiting surgery, said: “Evan William-Robert Swann, born 8th February at 10.32am, who was born with a congenital heart defect, one single wee soul, who has already been through more than any parent would want their child to go through, but he is just that, one soul, a son, a brother, a grandson, a nephew, a cousin, a great-grandson. More at :
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/87-politicians-oppose-heart-surgery-move-1-5059266
Sharp rise in Ulster child poverty predicted
News Letter – More than one million more children will fall into poverty in the UK by the end of the decade, new research has predicted.
The assessment by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said the projected increases from 2010/11 to 2020/21 will reverse the reductions in child poverty rates witnessed in the previous decade.
In Northern Ireland the problem appeared to be particularly acute with the predicted percentage of children experiencing poverty in 2020 much higher than the UK average forecasts at 29.7 and 32.9 in relative and absolute terms respectively.
Children deemed to be living in poverty are part of households that have an income below 60% of the national median…
…The study was commissioned by the Northern Ireland Executive to assess poverty levels in the region, but it also looked at the situation in the UK as a whole. More at:
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/sharp-rise-in-ulster-child-poverty-predicted-1-5059114
Funeral of Archdeacon
The funeral of The Ven Philip Patterson, Archdeacon of Down, will be at 11.00 am on Thursday 9 May in Knockbreda Parish Church.
Please note that only the two clergy leading the funeral will be robed.
MU annual marathon effort
Members of Connor Mothers’ Union once again tackled the Belfast Marathon nine–mile walk challenge to raise funds for MU projects.
Seven ladies completed the course on May Day Bank Holiday Monday. They included The Rev Mellissa Jeffers, former Diocesan President Moira Thom, Kathleen Rodgers and the Rev Elizabeth Hanna.
Choir member wins prestigious award
Michael Bell, a Belfast Cathedral choir member, has won the Bank of Ireland’s Catherine Judge Memorial Award following stiff competition in the Great Hall at Queen’s University, Belfast.
Michael received a cheque for £5,000 and an invitation to perform at the Sir Charles Wood Festival in August.
There was fierce competition this year, with soloists from Banbridge Academy, Cambridge House Grammar School, CIT Cork School of Music, Methodist College, RBAI, Royal Irish Academy of Music and Thornhill College.
Michael performed the following pieces:
• Deposuit potentes from Magnificat in D by J.S. Bach
• At the Railway Station Upway by Benjamin Britten
• Un Aura Amorosa from Cosi fan Tutti by W.A. Mozart
The presentation was made by the Leader of the Ulster Orchestra, Tamas Kocsis, and the other judges on the panel included Ireland’s internationally renowned piano player, Una Hunt, and Dr Joe McKee.
This prestigious award is open to all of Ireland and is part of the Bank of Ireland’s Secondary Schools’ Programme. It is presented annually to an exceptional solo classical musician who wishes to pursue third-level music education.
Michael currently attends Belfast Royal Academy and has been offered a place at St. John’s College, Cambridge in September 2013