Armstrong raises concerns over loss of services for disabled in Mid Ulster
Ulster Unionist Assembly Member for Mid-Ulster, Billy Armstrong, has voiced his deep concerned that, due to funding cuts, Speechmatters has been forced to announce the closure of its services in the Homefirst areas.
This means that people with Aphasia, which is a devastating communication disability after a stroke or head injury, will not receive crucial specialist services from Speechmatters from 1 April 2006.
In a statement, Mr Armstrong said: “The NHSSB have said that Speechmatters will not receive funding for 2006/2007 because an application was not submitted to a grant aid scheme in late 2005. However, it transpires that no invitation to apply to the NHSSB scheme was ever received by Speechmatters and the NHSSB officers did not advise that this grant scheme was available as a means of funding for Speechmatters specialist services.
“Due to this funding crisis, Speechmatters will be forced to close its services, including Conversation Groups in Cookstown and Newtownabbey, the Aphasia helpline and its one to one Family Support Services right across Homefirst Trust area. Another devastating consequence is that many specialised staff will lose their jobs and their skills lost.
“Many disabled people aged 65 years and older living in Mid- Ulster and South East Antrim, will now be left without any long-term Aphasia support because the services that were provided by Speechmatters are not available through the statutory sector or through any other voluntary organisation.”
He concluded: “I shall be calling on the Health Minister to offer the people of Mid- Ulster and South East Antrim the same level of support as other areas in Northern Ireland. It is a scandalous situation that in order to receive help, it ends up as a post code lottery.”