Hi °C | Lo °C The Health Minister has stated that reports that Glenmore House Children’s home in Lisburn is to close are not true.
It was reported yesterday that the facility was to close in the new year.
But instead Michael McGimpsey insisted that the facility is to be turned into a respite and residential facility for children with learning disability and other complex needs.
The minister said: “I am extremely disappointed that such a good news story on modernising and improving children’s services has been portrayed in such a negative way.
“The reality is that the South Eastern Trust has been very successful in its drive to introduce community-based alternatives to prevent children being taken into care. This has meant that they are able to provide support services to keep more children either at home or in foster care.
“As a result, the Trust has been able to change its services so that this facility can be used to benefit children with very complex needs. This includes children who had previously resided in Muckamore and who will now be able to receive care in their own community.”
He added that this was in line with the Bamford recommendations.
