Mrs Lockhart said the meeting provided an opportunity to get “under the bonnet” and have an honest discussion around the reality facing domiciliary care, workforce pressures and the long-term sustainability of care delivery.

Speaking following the meeting, Mrs Lockhart said:

“Earlier this month I raised serious concerns around the growing pressures facing domiciliary care across the Southern Trust area and I said I would continue pursuing this issue. That work is now underway.

Alongside colleagues Diane Dodds MLA, Diane Forsythe MLA and Gareth Wilson MLA, I met with Southern Trust leadership and Pauline Shepherd from IHCP to lift the lid on what is really happening within the system. Serious concerns were raised around the relationship between the Trust and the independent sector, workforce pressures, vacancies and proposals that could significantly impact care delivery.

Some of the figures discussed were deeply concerning. We heard that over 41,000 staff sickness days were reportedly recorded in one year and around 550 home care visits were missed due to sickness absence alone. Difficult but necessary questions were also asked around whether decisions are being driven by patient need or financial pressure, whether safeguarding and rural impact assessments have been carried out and whether every opportunity is being explored to strengthen partnership working and improve outcomes.

I want to thank Southern Trust leadership for engaging openly and honestly. There is a genuine desire to improve the system and there are changes that can and must happen both at Trust and Department level.

Most importantly, I want to pay tribute to our domiciliary care workers. Every single day they provide care, compassion and dignity to vulnerable people across our communities, often under enormous pressure. Their dedication should never be taken for granted.

These workers are travelling from home to home, often across large rural areas, providing essential support to some of the most vulnerable in society, yet many are battling rising fuel costs while using their own vehicles and trying to make ends meet.

We cannot continue asking people to shoulder greater responsibility while failing to properly value them. We need a serious conversation around pay, support and mileage costs. Quite simply, they deserve better. If we truly value care workers, that value must be reflected not only in words but in wages and practical support.

This is an issue I feel deeply passionate about, not only as an elected representative but as someone who started my own career as a home help and saw first-hand the importance of this work. I know the pressures, I know the demands and I know the difference these workers make in people’s lives.

I said I would act and I will continue pushing for the care and support people deserve.”