Northern Executive urged to do more for elderly

Campaigners marched on Stormont today demanding the Executive abides by promises to provide free nursing care for the elderly.

As Deputy First Minister Mark Durkan outlined plans to provide more support for senior citizens, the Right to Care lobby group insisted they did not go far enough.

Seamus Lynch of Help the Aged called on the Assembly to end charges for non-medical assistance in residential homes.

He said: ‘‘In refusing to introduce free personal care the Executive is demonstrating that older people do not matter.’’

Outlining the Programme for Government, Mr Durkan highlighted clearer plans for helping pensioners.

‘‘A key concern that emerged through the consultation was that we should do more to support our older people including providing free nursing care.

‘‘We have now been able to respond positively, and as I explained in the Budget statement, the Programme has now been changed to include a commitment to introducing free nursing care for the residents of nursing homes from October 2002.’’

The Programme also commits the Executive to providing more community care packages than originally planned.

‘‘We will now deliver an additional 1,000 fully funded community care packages targeted mainly at older people,’’ said Mr Durkan.

‘‘These will not only provide support for some of those most in need, they will also help to prevent the need for hospital treatment in many cases.’’

Improved hospital services and new measures to deliver social care are also central to the document’s objectives.

Improved access to cardiac services, strengthening treatment processes for cancer sufferers and providing additional dialysis sessions for those with renal failure.

Mr Durkan told the Assembly of the need to improve Northern Ireland’s appalling health record.

He said: ‘‘Our life expectancy compares very unfavourable with the European average and there are huge differences in health status between the best and worst off.’’