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South Eastern Health Trust to drop 'meals on wheels' daily service South Eastern Health Trust to drop 'meals on wheels' daily service
(about 1 hour later)
A plan by a health trust to halt daily delivery of meals to older people at home has been criticised by the SDLP's health spokesman.A plan by a health trust to halt daily delivery of meals to older people at home has been criticised by the SDLP's health spokesman.
Fearghal McKinney said he understood that the South Eastern Health Trust would instead deliver 14 frozen meals every two weeks, because of cutbacks.Fearghal McKinney said he understood that the South Eastern Health Trust would instead deliver 14 frozen meals every two weeks, because of cutbacks.
The trust said people would continue to receive a nutritious meal and would benefit from a wider choice of options.The trust said people would continue to receive a nutritious meal and would benefit from a wider choice of options.
The Southern Health Trust has already withdrawn its daily meal deliveries. It added carers will still visit those who need help to heat or eat meals.
'Safety check''Safety check'
Currently, the Southern Health Trust is the only one of Northern Ireland's five health trusts that does not deliver chilled but freshly cooked meals to older people in their own homes on a daily basis, in what is known as a community meals service. Currently, Northern Ireland's five health trusts deliver meals to older people in their own homes on a daily basis, in what is known as a community meals service.
The Belfast Trust is the biggest provider, supplying 5,208 community meals each week to 1,025 people.
The Western Health Trust commissions approximately 2, 854 community meals per week to 740 people.
The Southern Health Trust pays contractors to provide hot daily meals rather than a chilled or frozen service, but deliver to a relatively small number of people. Only 47 people receive its community meals.
The Northern Health Trust still provides a daily delivery service but there have been very few new referrals for several years.The Northern Health Trust still provides a daily delivery service but there have been very few new referrals for several years.
The South Eastern Health Trust currently commissions approximately 1,300 community meals per week to 295 eligible older people
Mr McKinney said the South Eastern Health Trust's plans to stop daily deliveries would reduce older people's contact with carers.Mr McKinney said the South Eastern Health Trust's plans to stop daily deliveries would reduce older people's contact with carers.
"They are the eyes and ears, a safety check if you like, to report on the changing health needs of older homebound adults," he told the Northern Ireland Assembly."They are the eyes and ears, a safety check if you like, to report on the changing health needs of older homebound adults," he told the Northern Ireland Assembly.
He said while the current Transforming Your Care health review plans were aimed at "provision in the community to keep people out of hospital", the trust's actions "may put them in hospital in a weakened state".He said while the current Transforming Your Care health review plans were aimed at "provision in the community to keep people out of hospital", the trust's actions "may put them in hospital in a weakened state".
'Financial climate''Financial climate'
However, the South Eastern Health Trust's director of nursing and older people services, Nicky Patterson, said she wanted to reassure the public that any older person who needed help with their frozen meals would still receive daily visits from health care staff.However, the South Eastern Health Trust's director of nursing and older people services, Nicky Patterson, said she wanted to reassure the public that any older person who needed help with their frozen meals would still receive daily visits from health care staff.
"If they require other social service input they are having that, and they will continue to have that," Ms Patterson told the BBC's Nolan Show."If they require other social service input they are having that, and they will continue to have that," Ms Patterson told the BBC's Nolan Show.
"So, if there is an individual who requires that support either to eat their meal, to heat their meal or anything else related to that process, that will continue and it's important to emphasis that.""So, if there is an individual who requires that support either to eat their meal, to heat their meal or anything else related to that process, that will continue and it's important to emphasis that."
The South Eastern Health Trust currently commissions approximately 1,300 community meals per week to 295 eligible older people and has not consulted them about the change from fresh to frozen meals. The South Eastern Health Trust has not consulted those who receive the meals about the change from fresh to frozen.
Ms Patterson said the process of awarding a contract to a frozen meal provider had already gone out to tender but was not yet complete.Ms Patterson said the process of awarding a contract to a frozen meal provider had already gone out to tender but was not yet complete.
She said all the older people who are set to be affected by the move are to be "individually engaged with".She said all the older people who are set to be affected by the move are to be "individually engaged with".
"What we need to recognise is that in a very challenging financial climate throughout the public sector in Northern Ireland, and there's certainly been considerable coverage of that in the budget agreement over the last 24 hours, it is incumbent on all of us who work in the public sector to review how we're providing services."What we need to recognise is that in a very challenging financial climate throughout the public sector in Northern Ireland, and there's certainly been considerable coverage of that in the budget agreement over the last 24 hours, it is incumbent on all of us who work in the public sector to review how we're providing services.
"If we can provide as good a service as previously, in a more cost effective way, then we absolutely need to consider that.""If we can provide as good a service as previously, in a more cost effective way, then we absolutely need to consider that."
'Value for money''Value for money'
In a statement on Monday, the South Eastern Trust said that the frozen meals were "carefully specified by experienced trust staff" and were "in line with strict dietetic guidance".In a statement on Monday, the South Eastern Trust said that the frozen meals were "carefully specified by experienced trust staff" and were "in line with strict dietetic guidance".
"Clients will continue to receive a nutritious meal and will benefit from a wider choice of options, conveniently delivered to their home," the spokesperson said."Clients will continue to receive a nutritious meal and will benefit from a wider choice of options, conveniently delivered to their home," the spokesperson said.
"This approach ensures improved value for money and sustainability without compromising on the quality and choice of meals available for clients.""This approach ensures improved value for money and sustainability without compromising on the quality and choice of meals available for clients."