By Conor Sharkey
"WE pray to God you make the right decision".
The message from Greenfield Home residents to Health Minister Michael McGimpsey when he arrived in Strabane for an unannounced visit last week.
Mr McGimpsey took staff completely by surprise when he arrived at the home last Thursday.
During his one-hour stop off, the Stormont health chief was given a guided tour of the Melmount Road facility before meeting with some of the residents.
The Western Trust are currently putting together a submission on the future of Greenfield, which is expected to be presented to the Health Minister within two weeks. His final ruling on the future of the home should then be made known within days.
Staff at Greenfield have remained tight-lipped about what was discussed with the Minister, however the Strabane Chronicle understands that he was again urged to reject the Trust's proposal. After informing residents that he is the man who will decide once and for all whether the home remains open, the collective response was clear: "We pray to God you make the right decision".
While both the Concerned Relatives of Greenfield Residents and local politicians have welcomed the unannounced visit, the Minister played it down as merely a fact finding mission.
Asked by the Strabane Chronicle if, after having been to Greenfield, he would now oppose plans to close it, Mr McGimpsey said: "I have visited a number of residential homes across Northern Ireland in the last few weeks. These were private visits, during which I met with staff and residents in order to hear their views on Trusts' proposals and to gain a better insight into the quality of care provided in these facilities. I also had the opportunity to talk to a number of relatives and carers.
"Trusts will be making recommendations on their proposals in the near future and these recommendations will come to me for endorsement. In light of that, it is important that I am familiar with the relevant issues to help me make an informed decision about the way forward.
"It would be inappropriate for me to comment further until I have received and considered all the Trusts' recommendations," Mr McGimpsey said.
