Health Minister opens Blair Lodge residential care home

Health Minister Michael McGimpsey today officially opened the redeveloped Blair Lodge Residential Care Home in Bangor.

Blair Lodge is a privately-owned home run by independent health care partnership, Armstrong Care Services, for people with a learning disability with complex needs including Alzheimer’s, Dementia, and Sensory Impairment.

Mr McGimpsey said: “It’s a privilege to be here today to open the newly redeveloped Blair Lodge residential care home. I am fully committed to ensuring that people with learning disabilities are cared for in the community and live as independently as possible. Facilities such as Blair Lodge, which has put the patient at the forefront of the building and service design, will help this happen. This care home is absolutely in keeping with my Department’s policies. It provides a comfortable and homely community for residents meeting their needs within a supportive, therapeutic and enabling environment.

“Despite severe pressure on my budgets, I have been able to secure an additional £12.5million for learning disability services over the three years from 2008/09 to 2010/11. I will continue to make services for learning disability one of my top priorities.”

The Minister toured the facility’s accommodation where he was introduced to a number of residents and their families.

Concluding the visit, Mr McGimpsey said: “Blair Lodge sets a benchmark for care provision in the learning disability sector and I hope other providers can learn from this example of community care working as we planned.”

Notes to editors:

1. Armstrong Care Services is an independent health care partnership which provides person centred services that meet the diverse needs and individual aspirations and goals of people with an intellectual disability and/or challenging behaviour and/or complex needs.

2. Situated on the Bryansburn Road, Bangor, Blair Lodge is privately owned by mother and son team, Rosemary and Bruce Armstrong. It opened in 1991 to provide quality residential care to 15 adults, with a moderate learning disability.

3. The 12 month build programme commenced on 1 September 2008 with the new Unit operational on 4 September 2009.

4. The total cost of the new 29-bedded unit was approximately £2.8million.

5. The Programme for Government resettlement target is that by 2013, no one with a learning disability will remain unnecessarily in hospital.

6. Media queries to DHSSPS Press Office on 028 9052 2841. For out of office hours queries contact the Duty Press Office via pager number on 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.