Introduction

On 13 June 2018, I published Home Truths – A Report on the Commissioner’s Investigation into Dunmurry Manor Care Home. The report made 59 recommendations to seven Relevant Authorities (RAs) with the overarching aim of improving the standard of care for older people. In that report I committed to reporting back, one year on, on the progress made by those RAs in implementing my recommendations.

I know that families are anxious for progress to be made swiftly, as am I, and I appreciate your patience and understanding as I continue to see through what is an extremely complex investigation. Many of you will be aware of other developments since Home Truths was published, including separate investigations by other agencies, into what happened at Dunmurry Manor. I very much welcome this response from key authorities to the serious that this update provides some clarity and insight into the investigation process to date.

Older people in Northern Ireland have a right to be protected and to receive the highest standards of care at all times and therefore I investigation are responded to in full and in a manner that ensures older people are better protected.

In the meantime, I hope that this update report provides an explanation of the ongoing process, my unwavering commitment to seeing through this investigation and the steps taken to date to ensure the implementation of my recommendations aimed at making in care.