Learning disability services across the Western Trust have been underfunded by £42 million over the past six years.

Health Minister Michelle O’Neill met with local carers groups last Tuesday to discuss the underspend – which has been calculated at £7 million per annum for six years – and to hear first-hand from them about their continuing concerns in relation to the handling of this issue by the Western Trust.

Read: 'Breakdown of trust' over underspend

Following the meeting, the Health Minister told The Impartial Reporter: “When I met with the families again last week, I listened carefully to their concerns about how this issue is being handled by the Trust. From day one, I have made it clear that the families must be fully involved in resolving this issue. My actions to date have been motivated by this objective. This will continue to be the case going forward.”

Read: "I will not be found wanting in my support for people with a learning disability."

Impartial Reporter:

Health Minister Michelle O'Neill

The Western Trust first admitted the underspend in May. It has reinstated £3 million in this year’s budget. Plans for the remaining £5 million have yet to be drawn up by the Trust.

Carers representatives met the Trust in May and were told they would be part of an open and transparent working relationship, aimed at finding a resolution for the underfunding issue. Following a meeting with the Trust at Altnagelvin at the beginning of October, the carers walked away from that working relationship, claiming the Trust had not engaged with them as they had expected. “In the future, we will monitor and scrutinise the Trust’s actions and will hold to account those who have been entrusted to deliver services to one of the most vulnerable sections in society,” a spokesman for the carers said.

Read: Action Group vows to lead fight to get back disability services' lost millions from Western Trust

A spokeswoman from the Department of Health told The Impartial Reporter: “At the meeting with the Health Minister, it was explained that, based on financial data provided by the Health and Social Care Board, the average variance between the expected capitation investment in community learning disability and the actual spend in the Western Trust area for learning disability over the past six years has recently been quantified at around £7 million per annum.

“While such variances do not necessarily indicate an under-spend, in this case the Western Trust has accepted the need to increase investment and has recently confirmed that it is planning to increase its resourcing in this area by £8 million.

“Plans to deliver investments totalling £3 million of this have already been detailed by the Trust. Plans for the remaining £5 million will now be drawn up by the Trust.

“To ensure that this is done in an inclusive way, consideration is currently being given to the appointment of an independent facilitator to work with the families and the Trust going forward.  A senior official in the Department is also to be appointed to oversee this process and to act as a contact point for the families.”

Caroline Kelly, Chair of Enniskillen-based South West Carers Forum (SWCF), stated: “The Minister acknowledged the complete breakdown of trust between families and the Western Trust in its failure to explain why this underspend happened and to provide any long term plan on how recovery of the underspend can be now be achieved.”

Ms. Kelly was back at Stormont yesterday meeting SDLP and Sinn Fein MLAs about the underspend issue, which she intends to pursue. 

In a statement released to the press, the Western Trust said it is “profoundly disappointed” with the carers’ decision. A spokesman said: “The Trust has a strong desire to resolve this issue and will continue to invite carers representatives to its future planning meetings as requested by the group.”