THE Commissioner for Older People in Northern Ireland has confirmed he continues to have concerns about the safety of residents at a Derry care home following critical watchdog inspections.
Owen Mor, which provides places for those learning disabilities and dementia, remains closed to new admissions after severe shortcomings were discovered in relation to management of medicines earlier this year.
Commissioner Eddie Lynch responded to comments made by a Western health trust chief at a meeting on Thursday who said he was unable to give assurances that residents were receiving "safe and quality care at every moment in time."
Failings in care standards at the 81-bedded facility first came to light in May following inspections by the Regulatory and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA).
The watchdog said it had particular concerns about dementia patients who "may be unable to express their needs".
Mr Lynch was asked yesterday by the BBC's Nolan programme if he could make make any guarantees regarding safe care.
"How can I have the assurance that all residents in that home are safe when we have the head of older people services at the Trust saying he can't make that guarantee", he said.
"I don't believe you can make that statement as long as the home remains in failure to comply with the minimum standards.
"How you can say you can be assured that people are safe? It is an unbelievable situation that six months on that this is the case."
A spokeswoman for Owen Mor management said they have been "working closely with its regulator the RQIA and the Western Trust to move to full compliance and have the current enforcement notice lifted".
The RQIA said the home remains under enforcement action".
"During our most recent inspection in late October, we were pleased to find significant progress towards addressing the concerns identified by RQIA," a spokesman said.
"The safety and wellbeing of everyone living at Owen Mor is of utmost importance."
