Nursing home will continue to operate as normal, says administrator

Administrators have been appointed to Care Circle Ltd and Slemish Homes Ltd, which own and operate several homes in Northern Ireland, including Kingsway in Dunmurry.

Following the appointment of Peter Allen from Deloitte as administrator, assurances have been given that Kingsway will continue to operate as normal and no job losses are planned.

The administrator intends to sell the 69-bed home as a going concern, and Mr Allen said it would be “business as usual” until a buyer is identified.

He commented: “All necessary steps have been taken to ensure the existing standard of care remains in place at the home.

“We are operating closely with the regulator and the Trust and we will be meeting residents and their families to explain the purpose of the administration and to provide comfort that there will be no material difference in how the home operates.”

Despite the assurances from the administrator, Lisburn North Alderman Stephen Martin said the announcement had left residents and staff at Kingsway Private Nursing Home facing “an uncertain future.”

“I am calling on the administrators to proceed as quickly as they can in their attempts to sell the business and communicate at all times with their residents and staff so that people know where they stand,” the Alliance man commented.

“I have today written to the administrators to stress in the strongest possible terms the impact this uncertainty will likely have on residents and their families. Those now in charge must do their utmost to protect those they have in their care and who make up some of the most vulnerable people in our community.

“I will be keeping a very close eye on developments over the next few weeks and will be making representations to all the relevant bodies involved.”

Meanwhile, a leading trade union has described Care Circle Ltd and Slemish Homes Ltd going into administration as “a very worrying development.”

Referring to the overall situation within the residential care sector, UNISON has warned that Northern Ireland could be “heading into a crisis in care home provision for our current and future older people.”