Cancellation of unpaid respite care in Woodlawn House Dungannon ‘a disgrace’ says Gildernew

The Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA said: “It’s disgraceful that the Southern Trust have cancelled unpaid carer respite in Woodlawn House Dungannon at short notice, due to a lack of space.

"As Chair of the All-Party Assembly for Carers and local MLA, I know first-hand that these respite facilities are a lifeline for unpaid carers who are looking after their loved ones 24-7 and I have read the recent report conducted by CarersNI & ESRC (2023) stating that unpaid carers across the North save our HSC & economy £5.8 billion in care costs each year.

"Carers play a vital role in our society and their contribution must be recognised and their needs met.

"We must immediately tackle this problem with much needed investment and political accountability, which is being denied by the DUPs blockade of the Executive.”