Brady calls on Minister Stephen Donnelly to act immediately to address crisis in residential care in Wicklow
Wicklow Sinn Féin TD John Brady has called on Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly to act immediately to ensure that respite services are reinstated for children and families at St. Catherine’s Association, in Newcastle.
He said that there was a crisis in residential care in Wicklow, describing the situation as totally unacceptable that families would be informed at barely a days notice of the withdrawal of services at the Bramble Respite Centre, as the provider can no longer continue to provide their current service.
Brady said:
“I find it shocking that this news would be bounced on families with barely a moment’s notice.
The respite service offered by Brambles, at St Catherines is incredibly important to families. Many of those attending the service have been there for years, and the withdrawal of the relationships, familiarity, and routine of their care is entirely counter-productive to their care.
I have been contacted by a number of parents, clearly distraught at the impact events will have on their children.
I understand that the management and staff are doing everything that they can to manage this situation. But, we have a Minister for Health here in Wicklow, and he needs to intervene here immediately in what is a crisis situation in residential services.
The landlord has terminated the lease for the centre, the provider has withdrawn their services, and children and families have been left high and dry.
There will be plenty of time to come to get to the bottom of why and how this was allowed to occur?
But the pressing issue at this time is for the Minister and the HSE to source an alternative venue for St. Catherines, Bramble’s Respite Centre.
I have written to the Minister emphasising the urgency of the situation, and the need for he and his Department to act immediately to resolve this situation, which should never have been allowed to arise.” ENDs