AQW 24605/22-27


Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford


Tabled Date: 19/03/2025
Answered On Date: 12/05/2025
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail the plans in place to deliver the required number of overnight respite beds required in the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust.


Answer:
I can provide the following information on the current status and plans regarding overnight respite beds/ short breaks in the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust (SEHSCT). This outlines the current operational status and the future plans for enhancing the overnight respite care facilities within the SEHSCT.
Children’s Services
The SEHSCT currently has one Residential Short Breaks Children’s Home, Green Hill, located in Newcastle County Down. With new Ministerial investment, it is planned that this will deliver two beds per night seven nights per week. In order to deliver the required number of overnight short breaks, the Trust also avails of Residential Short Breaks for children with complex medical needs provided by the Belfast Trust in Forest Lodge, Belfast.
Older People Services
In the SEHSCT Older Peoples Services there are 10 block booked short break beds available in both independent sector care homes and in Trust statutory residential facilities, to deliver the required number of short breaks:
2 in North Down & Ards (1 bed Mount Alexander Care Home – 1 bed Croaghpatrick Care Home)
4 in Lisburn (2 beds in Drumlough House Care Home and 2 beds in Laurelhill Care Home)
4 in Down (4 beds in Ardview).
The SEHSCT plans to utilise any available care home beds that meet assessed need, should there be additional demand for an emergency short break or a planned respite short break.
Adult Learning Disability
The SEHSCT has 1 statutory short breaks facility for adults with learning disabilities.  The SEHSCT also has block contracts with private providers for short breaks for adults with learning disabilities across the 3 sectors of the Trust.  In order to meet future additional demand, short breaks can be spot purchased.  Short breaks with private providers are also allocated as appropriate, in accordance with assessed need.