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Concern over offender's unit site Concern over offender's unit site
(20 minutes later)
The Children's Comissioner wants assurances convicted sex offenders are not to be treated close to a ward with children with learning disabilities. Convicted sex offenders are being treated not far from a ward housing children with learning disabilities at Muckamore Abbey Hospital.
Patricia Lewsley has written to the health minister asking for more information about a forensic unit she said was planned for Muckamore Abbey. Children's Comissioner Patricia Lewsley has written to the health minister seeking assurances about the safety of the children.
She said such a unit was needed "but the ultimate is the protection of the children and young people." She said such a unit was needed "but the ultimate is the protection of the children and young people".
The Department of Health said the unit was separate and "fully secure".The Department of Health said the unit was separate and "fully secure".
"These patients would be a risk to themselves and to others if they were not under appropriate supervision and care."These patients would be a risk to themselves and to others if they were not under appropriate supervision and care.
"The new facility is a unit that is fully secure and is entirely separate from other facilities at Muckamore."The new facility is a unit that is fully secure and is entirely separate from other facilities at Muckamore.
"Patients within this unit receive one-to-one supervision and do not come into contact with other patients at the hospital.""Patients within this unit receive one-to-one supervision and do not come into contact with other patients at the hospital."
Mrs Lewsley said she would be meeting with the department of health and would "seek to ensure that there are strict guidelines and that they are adhered to".
ControversyControversy
Mrs Lewsley said she would be meeting with the department of health and would "seek to ensure that there are strict guidelines and that they are adhered to".
Dr Colin Milligan, who works at the hospital, said safety measures were of the highest standard.
"All of the patients in the newly opened Sixmile forensic unit receive a dedicated, skilled multi-disciplinary assessment and treatment and that is based on detailed risk assessment and management," he said.
"I think it is better risk assessment and management than we have ever been able to do."
The hospital has been at the centre of controversy recently over the delayed discharge of children and young people from the hospital.The hospital has been at the centre of controversy recently over the delayed discharge of children and young people from the hospital.
The government has said that no child with a learning disability will be living in hospital in two years' time as part of a £3m action plan.The government has said that no child with a learning disability will be living in hospital in two years' time as part of a £3m action plan.
A recent BBC investigation disclosed that more than 100 adults and 17 children with learning disabilities were living in hospital unneccesarily.A recent BBC investigation disclosed that more than 100 adults and 17 children with learning disabilities were living in hospital unneccesarily.
The new government plan states that by March 2009, no child, and by March 2014, no adult with such disabilities would be in hospital.The new government plan states that by March 2009, no child, and by March 2014, no adult with such disabilities would be in hospital.
The BBC looked at the situation at Muckamore hospital in Antrim.
It found people with severe learning disabilities were being kept in hospital as there was no money to care for them in the community.
Under the new plan 40 people a year should be resettled from the hospital back into the community.