SDLP Health Spokesperson Fearghal McKinney has written to the Equality Commission in the wake of recent revelations regarding community meals provision for the elderly.
The South Belfast MLA has called for the Commission to investigate if equality laws are being breached as a result of decisions that are limiting access to meals and, in one case, the South Eastern HSC Trust planning to serve up frozen meals once a fortnight to older people.
In a letter to the head of the Equality Commission, Mr McKinney indicated that all Trusts were requested to come up with contingency plans in the light of budget pressures.
However, he has said: “It has become clear that these plans are not consistent across all of the five HSC Trusts. This means that services with a regional focus are being delivered inequitably across Northern Ireland up to and including services being available in some areas and not in others.
“It is clear that decisions are being made because of financial pressure but, as a result, are not satisfying individual need. In fact it is clear that those living in one area will receive a limited service or none at all, while others in another area will enjoy a better and more comprehensive service. In my view, that provokes an inequality which needs to be investigated.”
“This is particularly outrageous given that it affects some of our most vulnerable older people. This will result in Trusts serving up inequality as they race to maintain their bottom line at the instruction of the Department and the Minister.
I would urge the Equality Commission to satisfy itself that the Trusts and the Department have properly equality screened all their actions.”
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