Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín has called on the Department of Health to urgently bring forward a plan to support over 1600 people who remain without adequate care at home.

The North Belfast MLA said:

“Around 1,600 families across the north are waiting for home care to be put in place, these services include help to prepare meals, assistance with medication and vital intimate personal care.

“This places more worry and anxiety on families and increases pressure on the health service.

“The lack of available carers is yet another example of the lack of workforce planning that is being felt all across the health and social care system.

”It is up to the Health Minister to fix this problem, he needs get to grips with the crisis in Health and Social Care.

“I am calling on the Department of Health to bring forward plans to transform social care, including plans for a living wage for staff and getting the necessary support out to those families who need it most as soon as possible.”