Tuesday 26 June 2012
Campaign victory in Northern Ireland
Thanks to the continued campaigning of our supporters in Northern Ireland, the gap in care advisor support is finally being filled.
The job advert has been released today on the recruitment website of Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland.
The delay in filling the post, which has been vacant since November 2011, has been extremely frustrating. However, the commitment made in April 2012 by Belfast Health and Social Care Trust has enabled swift progress to be made to reach this recruitment stage. The commitment was made at an inquiry session of the All Party Group on Muscular Dystrophy in the Northern Ireland Assembly, for which the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign provides the organisational support.
Following concerns raised by people affected by muscular dystrophy and related neuromuscular conditions about the content of the job description, the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign secured agreement from Northern Ireland Executive Health Minister, Edwin Poots MLA, at a meeting last month that the new post providing essential care, support and advice, would cover both children and adults and also incorporate home visits.
The news comes just a week before the All Party Group on Muscular Dystrophy launches its final report into access to specialist neuromuscular care in Northern Ireland following a six month inquiry. Health Minister, Edwin Poots MLA, will be addressing guests at the launch event at Stormont on Tuesday 3 July, and the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, alongside the All Party Group, will be keen to hear the response from the Health Minister in relation to the recommendations in the report.
While the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign welcomes an end to the delay in recruiting this post, there is still a need for further care advisor support in Northern Ireland in addition to this post. The charity will be joining forces with supporters as the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign's Northern Ireland Muscle Group and the All Party Group call for increased specialist care and support for people with muscular dystrophy and related neuromuscular conditions in Northern Ireland.
For more information about our campaigning activity in Northern Ireland and the All Party Group on Muscular Dystrophy in the Northern Ireland Assembly, please get in touch:
020 7803 4839
j.kingsley@muscular-dystrophy.org
