Northern Ireland

Police and health trust launch Covid legislation breach probe into Co Antrim care home

Glenabbey Manor care home in Glengormley. Picture by Stephen Davison
Glenabbey Manor care home in Glengormley. Picture by Stephen Davison Glenabbey Manor care home in Glengormley. Picture by Stephen Davison

AN investigation has been launched into claims of a breach of Covid legislation at a Co Antrim care home.

The PSNI's Public Protection Branch and the Northern Health and Social Care Trust are investigating Glenabbey Manor care home in Glengormley, which houses 41 residents.

The Northern health trust has also launched a separate Serious Adverse Incident (SAI) investigation into the care home, according to BBC NI, following "serious concerns" over alleged "inappropriate behaviour in breach of Covid-19 legislation".

While it is not clear what the specific allegations are the trust says the investigation is not into deaths which occurred during the first phase of the pandemic.

The home at Glengormley's Church Road reported the death of 14 residents in May as a result of Covid-19.

"Our absolute priority is the safety of the 41 Northern trust residents in the home and we have put in place a rolling programme of visits to the home, along with individual reviews, in order to satisfy ourselves that the standards of care are what we would expect. We have also contacted the relatives of residents to inform them of the position," a trust spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added: As this is an active police investigation and the SAI investigation is ongoing, we will not be making any further comment at this stage."

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Runwood Homes, which owns Glenabbey Manor, said: "We are working closely with the Northern HSC Trust in respect of an investigation relating to Glenabbey Manor Care Home, and we are fully cooperating with all agencies involved to evidence the continued high standards of care expected at the service.

"Glenabbey Manor has welcomed several quality monitoring visits, as well as an RQIA inspection, which have all been positive; a testament to the continued high standard of care delivery at the home.

"We thank the management and staff for their ongoing professionalism, and residents and families for their continuous support, at this time and throughout the pandemic."