News
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Southern Trust homecare model failing as more staff leave than join — IHCP
The Southern Trust’s homecare model is failing while vulnerable people remain without the care they need, the Independent Health and Care Providers (IHCP) has warned. The intervention follows confirmation from Health Minister Mike Nesbitt that more staff are leaving the Trust’s homecare service than joining it. In a written Assembly Answer, the Minister said the…
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Minister’s rural homecare commitments must now be delivered — IHCP
The Independent Health and Care Providers (IHCP) has called for measures outlined by the Minister of Health to be translated into practical action after he set out plans to improve recruitment and retention in rural domiciliary care services. Responding to an Assembly Question from DUP MLA Diane Forsythe, Minister Mike Nesbitt stated that workforce sustainability…
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Minister acknowledges homecare workforce pressures — IHCP
The Independent Health and Care Providers (IHCP) has welcomed the Minister of Health’s acknowledgement of the recruitment challenges facing Northern Ireland’s domiciliary care sector after he set out the pressures reported by independent providers in answer to an Assembly Question. Responding to a question from UUP MLA Diana Armstrong, Minister Mike Nesbitt stated that recruitment…
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Minister confirms ‘no timeline’ for nursing home bed expansion — IHCP
The Independent Health and Care Providers (IHCP) has called for a long-term plan to expand Northern Ireland’s nursing home capacity after the Minister of Health confirmed that it is “not possible to provide a definitive timeline for expansion of nursing care home capacity at a regional level”. Responding to Assembly Questions from SDLP MLA Daniel…
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Stormont evidence exposes role of social care shortages in NI’s ‘hidden dying’ crisis
The Independent Health and Care Providers (IHCP) has said years of political failure to reform Northern Ireland’s social care system are now contributing to a ‘hidden dying’ crisis across the wider health service. The warning follows publication of a report from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine which associated 1,032 excess deaths in 2025 with…
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Home Care “Rationed by Stopwatch” as Southern Trust Cuts Visits — IHCP Warns
The Independent Health and Care Providers (IHCP) has revealed new internal measures by the Southern Health and Social Care Trust which it says “rations home care by stopwatch, not by need”. Internal documentation reviewed by IHCP confirms the Trust is moving to fundamentally reshape how home care is delivered, with sweeping reductions to visit length…
