HEALTH Minister Michelle O’Neill has said there has been “a breakdown of trust” between families with disabled adults and the Western Trust.
It comes after this newspaper reported how the Trust had confirmed an underspend of £8 million “over the past couple of years” much to the frustration of families in Fermanagh.
Minister O’Neill told the SDLP’s Daniel McCrossan last week that she has been “closely monitoring the actions of the Western Trust” in particular its engagement with families and carers. 
“Indeed, I wrote recently to the chief executive of the Trust to make clear the seriousness with which I take the concerns that have been expressed to me by families and carers and to underline the need to restore confidence by resolving the issue in a robust and transparent way.”
“While work to determine the extent of any underspend is ongoing, it is clear to all of us that urgent action is necessary in the shorter term,” she said.
Minister O’Neill explained that the Western Trust had taken a number of steps to begin to address the issue, which include the development, in partnership with families, of a phased investment plan in adult learning disability services. 
The Minister added: “In the immediate term, some £3 million is being invested to secure additional professional and support staff to enhance the community infrastructure in the Western Trust area and to address the priority needs of those transitioning into adult services by, among other things, increasing the day opportunities and day centre support.”  
Minister O’Neill said she had been assured that the Trust will review how it communicates progress to all families affected “and this is something that I will continue to monitor very closely.”
She concluded in strong terms: “There has been a breakdown of trust in the area, and that is totally unacceptable from the families and carers’ point of view.”