Nursing home patients 'may move'

Seven nurses were suspended in July

The Northern Health and Social Care Trust has said it could move virtually all its patients out of a County Antrim nursing home.

Earlier this year, the Orchard Manor Care Home in Antrim was at the centre of a controversy over the standard of care it provided.

Sixteen patients may be relocated in the coming weeks.

However, a spokesman for Orchard Manor said they had met with relatives who had expressed support for the home.

"The management had a very constructive meeting with 18 relatives tonight (Wednesday), all of whom expressed their support for the home based on the continuing improvements.

"Based on the feedback from the residents' relatives, the management will now seek further dialogue with the Trust as soon as possible."

In July, it was revealed that seven nurses at the home had been suspended, and an investigation was under way.

The home, run by the Southern Cross Healthcare group, had been warned by a regulatory body that it did not meeting nursing home regulations.

The trust wrote to Southern Cross more than a week ago, to inform it of the decision.

It is understood that one patient whose care is funded by the trust may remain in the home.

It is not known how many private patients are currently in the facility.