The RCPsych in NI’s Faculty of Learning Disabilities has welcomed an independent review published by the Department of Health on the leadership and governance at Muckamore Abbey Hospital.
In a statement, a spokesperson said: “The
College welcomes Minister Swann’s intentions to establish an inquiry and would advocate for speedy implementation of this work.
"We support a new regional plan to modernise the workforce, develop community care and provide specialist training for frontline staff.
"Robust day care opportunities should be in place for all people with learning disabilities and we will continue to ask for greater investment in this area.
"Compassion focussed care needs to be at the heart of all training and care provision and the current delivery and role of in-patient services will have to be reviewed.
“The biggest challenge will be to change the culture to a situation where people with learning disabilities receive the best possible care in the community and only when necessary - in hospital - for the shortest time possible.
“As psychiatrists, we are keen to provide expertise and help find solutions to develop community-based services. Human rights must be protected. We must ensure that the most vulnerable in society, receive the best possible quality of care.”
For further information, please contact:
- Email: press@rcpsych.ac.uk
- Twitter: @rcpsych
- Out-of-hours contact number: 07860 755896