Protests at closure of care home

(An edited version of this was published in the Sunday World June 12th)

Over 60 people protested on Thursday outside the offices of Apex Housing in Derry on Thursday, in protest at Apex’s decision to close Bell Gray House in Newtownstewart, Co Tyrone. The UNISON trade union organised the demonstration, attended by relatives, staff, members of the public and Assembly members.

Apex plans to move Bell Gray’s 23 elderly residents 10 miles away, to another care home it owns in Castlederg.

Eddie Donnell from Newtownstewart  fears the move will kill his 99 year old mother, who lives in Bell Gray. “She is very, very happy here,” Donnell said. “It’s very easy for family and friends to call in.” As a retired nurse, Donnell knows how important that contact is.

Donnell is also concerned for the staff. “Several of them in her can walk in in the mornings, they can’t drive, it’s a non starterfor them to move to Castlederg.”

Janet Cooper’s mother also lives in Bell Gray. She accused Apex of not  caring about the effect on residents. “The care here is excellent,” she said.  Her mother became ill very suddenly, and had been in a couple of other facilities before Bell Gray. “Since she came here, she’s improved,” Ms Cooper said. “Her social skills is improved, she’s interacting well with other residents. The social worker, the doctor, have said how much she improved.

“It’s down to the staff, the environment. It’s stimulating, it’s homely. It’s a small house, they can do that. Apex should have a duty of care.”

A resident in his late 80s said: “We shall not be moved. Money, money, that’s what this is all about.”  He said residents were not consulted. They just got an announcement. “We’re only a broken stick, we’re not big enough for that crowd,” he said. “The staff is first class. You couldn’t get better in the world. I know all of them by their name. It’s more like a part of a family.”

Another residents in his 80s said he was disgusted at how they were being treated. “They’re going to chuck us out now, from one place to the other,” he said. “That’s what they’re doing.”

Staff members are being offered redeployment to Castlderg – but for some it’s not possible. They will be losing their jobs. Jackie Donnell is one. “I don’t drive and I’ll have to give up my job,” she said. “There is no public transport. I’d have to to on the bus to Strabane, and another to Castlderg. That’s not on for a half seven shift.”

Niall McCarroll from UNISON said he questioned why Apex was closing the home. “The reasons that they are giving for closing the place down are false,” he said. “They’re trying to use the RQIA (Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority) and the state of the building,” he said. “But the last RQIA report gave it a well-run home.”

 3,000 signed have already signed a petition calling for Bell Gray to be kept open. There has been a packed meeting in Newtownstewart. The campaign has got support from MLAs and councillors of all parties, and from West Tyrone MP Pat Doherty

According to the latest set of accounts, Apex Housing had an operating surplus of £7.5million last year ending 31^st March last year.

A spokesman for Apex said the closure was necessary due to high staff turnover, and the condition of Bell Gray House. “Apex employed technical consultants to assess both the physical fabric of the building and its mechanical and electrical components,” the spokesman said. “Their report showed a requirement to spend over £300,000 plus vat (which is not reclaimable) on the property which would only increase the number of available beds marginally. Considerably more investment would be required to increase occupancy to a more viable level however the number of vacancies arising over the last number of years indicates that there is insufficient demand within the local area.”

McCarroll said the campaign is continuing. Campaigners have asked to speak to the next meeting of the Western Trust on June 9^th.