Health Minister to visit Northlands Centre after funding bombshell

The Department of Health’s withdrawal of annual core funding from Derry’s Northlands Addiction Treatment Centre has been challenged by the community and politicians across the north west. 

Including Derry and Strabane councillors, they have united to press the case for its immediate reinstatement. 

The Derry News broke the story last week Northlands had lost the core funding which covered its administration and housekeeping costs. The revelation was met with widespread shock and anger. 

Thursday’s meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Health and Community committee unanimously backed a proposal from Cllr Sandra Duffy (Sinn Fein) that Council should write to the Health Minister and Executive (TEO) expressing its concerns regarding the loss of core funding for Northlands and requesting the decision be reconsidered. 

Supporting the proposal, Ald Derek Hussey (UUP) said his party colleagues had made direct contact with Health Minister Mike Nesbitt on the issue. 

He added: “It is planned that the Minister will pay a visit to the site to consider the situation that has evolved with regard to the Northlands site. 

Northlands Centre annual core funding withdrawn by the Department of Health

Vital funding cut to long-serving Derry service

“I can assure colleagues in Council, our grouping does share the concerns that have been expressed and we have followed up directly with the Minister and have received an assurance he is aware of the scenario and plans to visit the city and look into that particular issue,” said Ald Hussey.

Cllr Duffy’s full proposal read: “Council will write to the Health Minister and Executive Office (TEO) expressing our concerns regarding the loss of core funding for The Northlands Centre and ask this be reconsidered.

“Ask Council officers to contact the Northlands Centre to discuss the impact this may have on services.

“And invite a deputation form The Northlands Centre to present to [the Health and Community] committee. 

Cllr Duffy said she had been “shocked and really disappointed” to hear that Northlands Centre was losing the core funding it relied on to run its services.

“I think as a city and district we know it as a competitive process but we also know the work that the Northlands Centre does and I certainly don't know very many families that haven't been touched by the work that they do, indeed I know many people that are here because of the services that they have received through the Northlands Centre,” she added.

“It does life-saving work, there's absolutely no doubt about that. We know that addiction services in this city are stretched. We know that there are many issues within our communities around addiction and mental health but the two at times can come hand in hand, and that is why it is really important that we have these services.

“We have in this chamber talked about a mental health crisis. We have talked about the scourge of addiction within our communities.  We have talked about the need for more and adequate services. I think that that has just led us to be really shocked at this decision around Northlands Centre,” said Cllr Duffy. 

Seconding the proposal, Cllr Rory Farrell (SDLP) described the decision as “absolutely disgraceful”. 

“Northlands is a vital service. It is an invaluable service that helps people struggling with addiction and their families right across this city and district. The investment should be increased not stripped away,” said Cllr Farrell. 

He added: “ It should be worth noting that the Programme for Government which sets out the priorities and the plans for the future from the Northern Ireland Executive was 120 pages and it didn’t mention addiction once and that’s an absolute disgrace as well. 

“We support the letter going to the Health Minister but what we have to recognise is this is an issue for the entire executive not just the Health Minister. Addiction should be a priority. Tackling addiction should be a priority,” said Cllr Farrell. 

Cllr Shaun Harkin said he had spoken to representatives of The Northlands Centre about the “devastating cut”.

He added: “They are obviously okay right now because they have some resources but their services are not sustainable into the future unless they receive core funding.

“There is also  an issue with the pot of money that they were able to access in the past and how that's been narrowed down for them in terms of helping people with addiction. 

“I think it speaks to a broader crisis where this is a huge issue for people and families right across our district where we unfortunately have worse health outcomes than many places across the North and across Britain. 

“We actually need more resources going to help people with addiction. We need services like the Northlands Centre fully funded and backed up and this is the opposite of that. We have said time and time again we can't afford to lose any services in our city that help people who are dealing with addiction. We can't afford to lose any services that are helping people with ill mental health.

“Here we are now with one of  the main organisations that has helped so many people and is  helping so many people right now facing uncertainty about its ability to support people into the future, so I do think we have to write to the health minister. I also think we have to look at what mechanisms are in place to actually properly fund organisations,” said Cllr Harkin. 

Speaking earlier in the week, Foyle MP Colm Eastwood (SDLP) said the decision to withdraw core funding from Northlands was “shocking”.

He added: “The team here is one of the most dedicated providers of healthcare in any setting anywhere on these islands. Their work, undertaken as a voluntary organisation, supports people suffering from addiction at the lowest points in their lives who have often been left behind or fallen through the cracks of other health services.

“They are lifesavers and the way they have been treated, the way they have been referred to, is beneath contempt.

“It is even more outrageous because the Department of Health and the Executive have failed to maximise the opportunity to support Northlands for years.

“There is a guarantee in the ‘New Decade New Approach’ agreement from the British Government to provide funding to realise Northlands’ plans to deliver the most exceptional addiction treatment centre on these islands. I insisted on it and successive Secretaries of State have made it clear that they are prepared to provide £1 million to achieve the ambitions that the team at Northlands have set out - it just needs the Executive to play their part,” said Mr Eastwood.

“It is time that promises were kept,” he added. “I’ve raised this decision with the Health Minister and submitted questions to the Secretary of State. This is beyond politics in our city and it needs to be addressed.”

Foyle MLA Ciara Ferguson (Sinn Féin) said the loss of core funding from the Department of Health had caused a great deal of “shock and work” in the city given the “crucial work” Northlands helping those with addiction issues.

She added: “At a time when addiction continues to be a major issue for so many families in this society, we need to be investing in such services. Sinn Féin is planning to raise its concerns directly with the Minister of Health Mike Nesbitt.”