Stormont health minister vows ‘laser focus’ after Muckamore abuse report
By Claudia Savage, Press Association
Stormont’s Health Minister has pledged a “laser focus” on dealing with abuse in the health and social care sector after a report found “profound and deeply troubling” failures at a Co Antrim facility for vulnerable adults.
Mike Nesbitt said it will not take his department six months to decide if they accept all 106 recommendations of the Muckamore Abbey Hospital Inquiry, saying some can be “progressed immediately”.
The long-awaited inquiry report published on Thursday said restrictive practices were used inappropriately, and that “as needed” medication was overused in the care of adults with severe learning disabilities and mental health needs.
Speaking to reporters in Belfast, Nesbitt gave an “unconditional apology” to those impacted on behalf of himself and “the entire health and social care system”.
“I commend the families, I commend them for their dignity and for their determination,” he said.
“A system which should have ensured the most vulnerable were protected, nurtured, and cared for, failed in that core duty,” he said.
“They were let down, and for that I am truly sorry.”
He added: “While the witness sessions may have finished in March 2025, the team worked on to ensure the key lessons and learnings from the wide range of evidence received and heard would be reflected in the final report,
“I note recommendation two allows my department up to six months to make clear whether or not we accept the recommendations.
“I do not wish to take that long.
“I believe we owe it to the families, and we blow it to the patients, I believe we owe it to the health and social care system itself to get on with it.
“I believe some recommendations can be progressed immediately.
“Others will need more working out. None should take until Christmas to figure out.
“I end where I began with an abject apology and a promise, a promise to bring a laser focus to better identifying any abuse anywhere early, and to deal with it decisively.”
The inquiry report said that CCTV footage was “essential in revealing the truth” about the extent of the abuse at the facility, and the report recommends all hospital settings for people with learning disabilities “should consider the installation of CCTV in the public areas."
The NI Health Minister said the Adult Protection Bill, which passed second stage at Stormont in June 2025, was paused awaiting the publication of the MAH report.
Asked about progressing this recommendation he said: “The chairman makes clear in his narrative that he understands (CCTV) is a difficult issue that needs to be thought through in terms of can you use it in all circumstances at all times.
“So it’s something that we’re going to have to work through as we now progress the Adult Protection Bill.”
Asked what he felt to be the most shocking element of the inquiry report, Nesbitt said: “The fact that people were allowing it to happen, knew it was happening on occasion, watched it happen on other occasions, walked past it happening, and didn’t speak out.”
