Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Home death families reach out to human rights lawyers
A NUMBER of families of loved ones who have died in care homes during the Covid-19 pandemic have contacted human rights lawyers.
They include those whose relatives have died while resident at Clifton Nursing Home in North Belfast.
The move will add to the mounting calls for a public inquiry.
The home in North Belfast is currently in the process of relocating residents from the business at Hopewell Avenue Which is run by Runwood Homes Senior Living.
A source told the Mirror: “One of the cases includes that of an elderly man who died a short time ago from Covid-19 related symptoms.
“His family had previously learned that a patient suffering from Covid came directly from hospital into the home. They sought assurances that all necessary protocols were in place to stop the spread of the disease, but within days their relative tested positive for Covid and he died a short time later.”
Other families are said to have the same concerns.
Solicitor Kevin Winters said: “We understand the RQIA raised concerns repeatedly about this home and had issued a series of Enforcement Actions which resulted in Failure To Comply Notices.
“There has been a litany of concerns including those raised by the Belfast Trust pointing to care falling below minimum required standards.
“The warning signs were there for many years but it seems the necessary remedial action for whatever reason wasn’t taken.”
The Mirror has contacted Runwood Homes Senior Living with a list of 12 questions.