SNAG is deeply concerned about the difficult choice presented to parents and family members of residents at Dr Giraldi Home during a Town Hall meeting held on Thursday, 14th August.

At the meeting, Minister Arias-Vasquez outlined a Care Agency proposal to address capacity issues expected to affect St Bernadette’s Centre within the next 12–14 months. The plan would involve relocating all residents from Dr Giraldi Home, where some have lived for more than 30 years, to Tangier Views, in order to expand St Bernadette’s. This move, the minister stated, would be temporary, lasting around three years, before residents are transferred again to a new, purpose-built facility at another location.

Families voiced strong objections, describing the proposal as placing them in an impossible position. The minister insisted this was not a fait accompli, assuring them that if the proposal was rejected, the project would be scrapped and the government would wait until the new building was completed.

One of the primary concerns raised was the suitability of Tangier Views. While the minister pledged that transport would be provided to bring residents to and from town, families expressed scepticism, citing the Care Agency’s poor track record in delivering reliable transport services.

The problems at St Bernadette’s are long-standing. Its inadequate facilities and lack of capacity have been repeatedly flagged by charities, families, and service users over the years, yet successive administrations have failed to take decisive action.

Equally troubling was the lack of detail on the proposed redevelopment of St Bernadette’s. Families received no timeline for the works, nor information on where service users would be accommodated during construction.

It appears the government is attempting to solve one problem while creating a far greater one. The stress and anxiety caused by uprooting vulnerable residents, only to move them again, cannot be underestimated.

Most troubling of all is the apparent ‘take it or leave it’ approach. This benefits no one. The government, through the Care Agency, must prioritise the individual needs of each resident and offer tailored, person-centred solutions. A ‘one size fits all’ policy is detrimental to those they are duty-bound to protect.

SNAG recognises that the Care Agency faces significant challenges. However, shifting the burden onto residents and their families is not an acceptable solution. The responsibility for finding a viable, compassionate, and resident-focused resolution rests squarely with the Agency and the government.