Western Health Trust says no decision made on care homes

The trust said no decision has yet been made to close its care homes

The Western Health Trust has said no decision has yet been made to close its care homes in the north west of Northern Ireland.

The homes under threat are Rectory Field and Willow Street, both Londonderry, and Thackeray Place in Limavady and Strabane's Green Field.

The trust said proposals would go to a meeting of its board on Thursday.

This will then be followed by a consultation process before any final decision is made, the trust added.

Last week, the Northern and Southern health trusts decided to close the homes they run.

The Western trust homes have 130 places overall but only 73 men and women live in them.

Some have lived in the homes for several years.

Health Minister Edwin Poots announced in February that more than 50% of residential homes would close under government plans.

Announcements in the past seven days suggest that figure will be closer to 100%.

On Tuesday evening, the chair of the Northern Ireland Assembly's Health Committee, Sue Ramsey, called on Mr Poots to take a firmer line with trusts on the issue of residential care homes.