In the Fermanagh area, 67 patients left hospital during the 2025/26 financial year with either a partial or no care package in place, according to figures disclosed by the Western Trust.

The data emerged after Fermanagh and Omagh District Council wrote to Health Minister Mike Nesbitt and Trust Chief Executive Karen Hargan seeking answers on hospital discharge arrangements and community care funding. The council had called for greater recognition of community carers and a review of pay rates for private care providers to bring them into line with those employed directly by the Trust.

The Trust confirmed there is no policy supporting the use of corridor beds to speed up discharges. It also provided the figure of 67 patients discharged without full care support.

During council discussions, Cllr Noeleen Hayes proposed writing back to both the Minister and the Trust. She criticised the Department of Health's emphasis on direct payments and argued that domiciliary care services should be brought back in-house, with carers employed directly by the Western Trust rather than through private agencies.

Cllr Adam Gannon said the figure represented families who may have had to change their entire way of life because the necessary support was not fully in place. He seconded the proposal and asked the council to seek details on what steps are being taken to reduce the number of such discharges.

Cllr Josephine Deehan backed the move, describing adequate domiciliary care packages as imperative for allowing elderly patients to return home safely. She highlighted the challenges of recruiting carers in rural areas and said carers should be valued and paid at a rate that reflects the importance and responsibilities of their work.

The council agreed to send the correspondence, pressing for action to address the gaps in post-discharge care.