Member's statement: Respite Care Shortages

Member's statement by Ms Cara Hunter on 17 February 2025.

MLA

Ms Cara Hunter

Party at the time

Social Democratic and Labour Party

Date

17 February 2025

Type

Member's statement

Business

Members' Statements

Heading

Respite Care Shortages

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4802375

Read the official Assembly record

Text

The urgent need to address respite care shortages in the North is a significant concern, which is shared by many families in my community and across the North. Recent reports from the 'Belfast Telegraph’ and 'The Irish News' painted a distressing picture of waiting times for respite care that have increased by as much as 50% over the past year, with some families facing delays of up to 12 months for a much-needed break. Cancellations ruin plans and the much-awaited rest and recuperation for our unpaid carers. Respite services allow our unpaid carers to, essentially, have a day or two away and have some time to themselves. In particular, I think of the case of Woodlawn House in Dungannon, where things get cancelled at short notice due to lack of space. That needs to be urgently addressed. Unpaid carers across the North save our health service and economy £5·8 billion in care costs each year. Local charities, which have long been the backbone of support, are now overwhelmed because the number of those who are waiting for respite services has, effectively doubled. Those figures are not mere statistics; they are real people. They represent burnt-out mothers, fathers, siblings and carers who are stretched to breaking point. Carers play a vital role in our society. Their contribution must be recognised, and, of course, their needs must be met. In my constituency and in our communities, where care responsibilities are already heavy, I have spoken with many for whom the lack of timely respite services has profound mental health consequences. We hear stories of carers who have been forced to cancel work, endure severe stress and, in some heartbreaking cases, compromise the quality of the care that they can offer their loved ones and their own mental health and overall well-being. It is not only a question of health and well-being. It is a matter of dignity and the basic right to support for those who care for our most vulnerable citizens. The crisis in respite care reflects a broader systemic challenge that requires urgent and decisive government action. For the countless parents who have children with complex needs, I ask that the Health Minister and his Department provide an immediate review of the current services that are available. It is imperative that we secure additional funding, enhance staffing levels and ensure fair and equitable distribution of those vital services across the region. The well-being of our communities and, indeed, the long-term sustainability of our health services depend on it. We in the SDLP, standing in opposition, are committed to working constructively with the Executive and the Department of Health to deliver that. We must ensure that families are not left without the support that they so desperately need. I urge the Department to act swiftly to ensure that that is not the case.

472 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:57 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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