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| Western Health Trust may close all its care homes | Western Health Trust may close all its care homes |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The Western Health Trust is proposing to close all its residential care homes, the BBC has learned. | The Western Health Trust is proposing to close all its residential care homes, the BBC has learned. |
| It follows similar moves by the Northern and Southern health trusts, which announced last week they have decided to close the homes they run. | It follows similar moves by the Northern and Southern health trusts, which announced last week they have decided to close the homes they run. |
| The homes under threat are Rectory Field and Willow Street, both Londonderry, and Thackeray Place in Limavady and Strabane's Green Field. | The homes under threat are Rectory Field and Willow Street, both Londonderry, and Thackeray Place in Limavady and Strabane's Green Field. |
| There are 130 places overall but only 73 men and women live in the homes. | There are 130 places overall but only 73 men and women live in the homes. |
| Some have lived in the homes for several years. | Some have lived in the homes for several years. |
| Josie McCann's mother is 99 and lives in Thackeray. | Josie McCann's mother is 99 and lives in Thackeray. |
| She said it was her mum's home and no-one had the right to take if off her. | She said it was her mum's home and no-one had the right to take if off her. |
| Heard from journalist | Heard from journalist |
| "The care they get in there is unbelievable. The staff are fantastic, every last one of them," she said. | "The care they get in there is unbelievable. The staff are fantastic, every last one of them," she said. |
| "I honestly believe that if my mother was moved from there, it would kill her." | "I honestly believe that if my mother was moved from there, it would kill her." |
| Ms McCann said she had not been informed by the authorities about the possible closures but had heard the news from a journalist. | Ms McCann said she had not been informed by the authorities about the possible closures but had heard the news from a journalist. |
| She said she would say to Health Minister Edwin Poots: "Do you care, do you really care, minister?" | She said she would say to Health Minister Edwin Poots: "Do you care, do you really care, minister?" |
| She said her mother was now in her 100th year and could not be expected to live much longer. | She said her mother was now in her 100th year and could not be expected to live much longer. |
| "I would like the last months, or years, if she would even have years, to be spent in peace," Ms McCann said. | "I would like the last months, or years, if she would even have years, to be spent in peace," Ms McCann said. |
| "Can you imagine the stress it is going to cause to an old lady of that age?" | "Can you imagine the stress it is going to cause to an old lady of that age?" |
| Western health trust officials were expected to brief residents and their families in Thackeray on Tuesday evening. | |
| The health minister announced in February that over 50% of residential homes would close under government plans. | The health minister announced in February that over 50% of residential homes would close under government plans. |
| Announcements in the past seven days suggest that figure will be closer to 100%. | Announcements in the past seven days suggest that figure will be closer to 100%. |
| On Tuesday evening, the chair of the Northern Ireland Assembly's Health Committee, Sue Ramsey, called on Mr Poots to take a firmer line with trusts on the issue of residential care homes. |