North Antrim MLA Paul Frew speaking in the Assembly in a debate on the lack of respite provision for adults with learning difficulties
During a poignant debate in the Northern Ireland Assembly on Monday, October 21, Paul Frew, the DUP MLA for North Antrim, has passionately argued for not just reform but a "radical change" in the support system for carers and their loved ones.
Highlighting the distress caused by the current state of respite care provision, Frew described the situation as a system that has moved from “Transforming Your Care" to "Destroying Your Health."
The debate focused on the chronic issues faced by carers, including last-minute cancellations of desperately needed respite care, the lack of emergency provisions, and the problematic transition from child to adult services. Frew emphasised the emotional and physical toll on carers who are often left to manage on their own when moved from hospital to home settings without adequate support.
"Be kind, for you do not know what battles people are fighting," Frew quoted, underscoring the invisible struggles of carers across Northern Ireland. He pointed out the paradox where the health system's push to keep individuals at home longer has inadvertently led to more pressure on health services when carers reach breaking point.
“Whilst we say it quite often, there is no way in which we can measure the depth of despair or the battles that those people are fighting. That is heartbreaking for a number of reasons, and not just on an individual level.”
The North Antrim MLA continued:
“Since my political career began, and especially since I became a full-time politician in 2010, the health system has moved to become one where we keep people at home longer. Given what the health estate, our services and our health trusts provide, the pressure on them is mighty, yet it is nearly as if we have completely forgotten about all those people whom we removed from a hospital setting to the home setting. It is as if we have left their families in despair.
“It is absolutely clear that, that false economy is leading to more casualties and more patients with carers who are burnt out. It is as if we cannot see that. Then, we wonder why people are rocking up to our health estate needing beds in our wards because they cannot cope. When that tragedy happens, what happens to the person for whom that carer was caring? We are multiplying carnage upon carnage.”
The Assembly heard various contributions, with Linda Dillon of Sinn Féin discussing the immediate need for an emergency respite plan and the devastating impact of cancelled respite. Meanwhile, Colin McGrath from the SDLP highlighted the inappropriate but necessary interventions by the PSNI, who often fill in the gaps left by inadequate care services.
Frew also acknowledged the comments of party colleague Alan Robinson, who moved our amendment. The MLA talked about the £5.8 billion a year that carers are saving the health service. The estimated value of unpaid care in the Northern Trust and the Western Trust being £1.3 billion and £800 million a year respectively.
The role of carers across Northern Ireland equates to an economic contribution that saves the health service billions annually, a fact often overlooked when considering the support they receive.
He commended the work of those providing respite but stressed that the current system's failures are leading to a cycle where both carers and those they care for are suffering unnecessarily.
In his concluding remarks, Frew supported amendments proposed during the session aimed at addressing some of these critical issues. He urged the Assembly to consider the dire need for an overhaul of the current system to genuinely support those who sacrifice so much for the care of others.
This debate has brought to light the urgent need for action to prevent what Frew describes as "multiplying carnage upon carnage" within the care system in Northern Ireland, calling for immediate and substantial changes to support society's unsung heroes.