Staff remember visit of ex-health minister

Staff remember visit of ex-health minister

13 March 2024

STAFF at Ardview House can vividly recall Baroness Denton’s visit to the facility on a sunny Saturday morning in June 1994.

She was there to meet with them, the residents, their relatives and those campaigning vigorously to keep the facility open. 

The Health Minister’s visit came after a judicial review into the process which led to the decision to close the home and while it was scheduled to last for one hour, she stayed an extra 30 minutes to listen to as many people as she possibly could.

Staff members Grainne O’Connor, Grainne Higgins and Marie Murphy recall with clarity the uncertainty that hung over Ardview 30 years ago and how the mood lifted when the health minister swept into the building.

Ardview was unique as, unlike other statutory residential care homes in the area, it had both a residential and dementia wing, which were critical factors in the final analysis and decision to keep the doors open.

Staff who have seen the Ardglass facility evolve over the decades readily admit that it could all have been so different if health mandarins had got their way and closed it.

One of the key arguments of the campaign to keep Ardview open was that it was ‘home’ for its residents who revelled in the family atmosphere, tranquil setting and stunning views across the Irish Sea.

Staff say the closure of the purpose-built facility would have been a major body blow for not just residents, their families and staff, but Ardglass and the wider district.

“We didn’t  know if we were e going to have a job or not and there was a great deal of uncertainty about Ardview’s future,” recalled Grainne O’Connor.

“We just didn’t know if it would it stay open or not or if would we have a job?

“It was a particularly difficult time for the residents and their families. This was their home, a home for life. we heard at first hand from the residents, they were angry they were going to be forced to go somewhere else. They did not where they were going to be moved to or what their future was. This was their home,” she added.

Grainne Higgins said a lot of the staff were on temporary contracts and had no idea what lay ahead if Ardview had closed.

“The residents were very concerned and often spoke to us about their concerns,” she continued.

“They were fully behind the campaign being waged by the Ardview Action Committee as were all the staff.”

Grainne said the entire Ardglass community and many other people across the district backed the campaign which saved the home from closure.

Staff said the Ardview Action Committee were a tremendous support and kept them fully informed of developments.

“It was difficult to work not knowing what the future held by the residents were our priority and we got on with the job, knowing we had the overwhelming support of the community behind us,” Grainne continued.

“Ardview employed around 40 staff at the time and the loss of the home to the village would have been major blow for the economy,” she said.

“Baroness Denton took an interest in the home and wanted to come here to see the place and speak with residents which she did. Subsequently, she took the decision to keep Ardview open which was a massive relief for us all.”

Grainne added: “We can can still remember the day she came to see us and we believe it was the turning point in the campaign to keep us open and we are still here.”