AN elderly West Belfast woman says she is "shocked, disappointed and distressed" after her daily visits from carers were cut from three to two times a day.
Lillian Flanagan suffers from Fibromyalgia, arthritis and vascular disease which means she has a lack of peripheral vision. Aged seventy-seven, she has been in a wheelchair since 2016 and says she suffers from "daily pain".
"I can't rush in the morning. Fibromyalgia affects the muscles. Anybody that asks me how I am, I say 'Fine, thank you.' I never complain.
"I can't walk. I need my chair for my independence."
Ms Flanagan lives in Ballydown Court, a retirement complex in West Belfast. She said that recently her care hours were reduced "without any explanation" and that she is seeking an explanation from the Trust.
She is able to go out and go to craft groups, but says that the reduction in care support will affect her "daily life and independence".
Ms Flanagan says her carers themselves were not informed about the changes to her circumstances, and that she felt a "lack of compassion" from Trust management.
Responding, the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust said: "Care provision for Belfast Trust service users is based on an assessment of need and is reviewed regularly to ensure support remains appropriate to the individual's circumstances.
"Assessments and reviews take account of the person's abilities, identified care needs, views and wishes, and may be informed by relevant health and social care professionals where appropriate.
"In instances where there is no concern regarding service users’ capacity and they can communicate clearly in relation to decisions regarding their care, we support their wishes to maintain independence as much as possible. Support is provided for identified needs and care arrangements can be reviewed if those needs change."
