Today we have lodged an application for leave to apply for judicial review of combined decision making by the Department of Health and RQIA which has impacted on the life of a Care Home resident.

Our client Briege Evelyn Gray, who suffers from dementia, is a resident in a Care Home in Castlewellan.

The Department issued a direction to RQIA which resulted in both the reduction of the number of inspections followed by a decision to not to inspect at all.

For the many Care Home residents and their families right across the country this has increased their already high state of anxiety caused by the current COVID crisis.

Highlighting just how distressing it is for families the applicant’s son Keith Gray said today, “This is simply unacceptable. I am at my wits end over this. My mother like 100s of other residents is vulnerable and her life is now at grave risk I want proper inspections and full oversight but it may be too late. I am disgusted.”

Speaking on the significance of the case Mrs Gray’s lawyer Kevin Winters, Senior Partner, KRW LAW LLP, said

“Given the vicious pace at which this virus operates this application can’t come quickly enough. These residents are the most vulnerable of all in society yet instead of being prioritised for over sight they are downgraded because they’re elderly and already life limited. All efforts need to be taken to halt the rising incidence of horrific statistics emerging from Care Homes. It’s against this background we are taking this challenge.”