Trust's closure of Avoca Lodge 'hammer blow' - Delargy

The Western Health and Social Care Trust has confirmed it plans to close the Avoca Lodge supported living facility at Gransha Hospital.

Foyle MLA Pádraig Delargy (Sinn Féin) is seeking urgent talks with the Trust following the decision to "step down" Avoca Lodge and relocate service users and staff to other facilities.

Mr Delargy said: “I have been liaising with families of service users and staff at Avoca Lodge for months now, given the great deal of uncertainty over the future of the facility. This news will come as a hammer blow to them. 

“Mental health provision needs to be a priority in this city, given the clear extent of the need that exists so this is clearly a retrograde step.

“The Trust has said this move is part of the reform and modernisation of Adult Mental Health Supported Living services but service users and their families certainly don’t see it like that.

“Following this announcement, I have asked for an urgent meeting with the Trust and I will be asking for this decision to be overturned. I will also be seeking clarity on how this announcement will impact on staff. 

"We need more and better mental health provision, not less, and the onus is now on the Trust to explain how this move fits into the need to improve provision in this area.”