§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what input he has sought from service users into plans for redevelopment of the Muckamore Abbey Site. [151186]
§ Angela SmithThe redevelopment of Muckamore Abbey Hospital was first identified in strategies for services for people with learning disabilities produced by the Eastern and Northern Health and Social Services Boards in the mid-1990s. These strategies were the554W subject of extensive consultation, including public meetings held in number of venues throughout the Boards' areas.
In July 2000, North and West Belfast Health and Social Services Trust distributed 800 copies of a consultation document on Muckamore Abbey Hospital. A number of public meetings were held, including a briefing meeting held by the Chief Executive for MLAs. A team of social workers visited the families of every inpatient in the hospital to hear their views on the proposed changes to the hospital.
A service users' focus group has been set up which has been independently facilitated from outside the hospital. The focus group is made up of people who are currently hospital patients and people who are ex-patients. This is informing the modernisation process.