Poots to meet trusts over care home closures 'disaster' 3 May 2013 Last updated at 06:06 Health Minister Edwin Poots is due to meet health bosses later to discuss the potential closure of their trust care homes in Northern Ireland. Mr Poots said the way the issue had been handled was "a disaster." He was speaking after a third health trust confirmed on Thursday that it planned to shut all of its homes. NHS care homes in the northern, southern and western trust areas have been earmarked for closure. Mr Poots has apologised to those elderly people who have been distressed as a result of the closures. He said the health trusts that planned to close all their homes had "overstepped the mark." 'Transforming your Care' is something that received over 90 per cent support in the public consultation. It received overwhelming support in the assembly and it has my support," he said. 'Transforming your Care' identifies that 50 per cent plus of homes will go over a three to five year period and they have overstepped the mark in looking to close 100 per cent of homes in a short period of time. Under the Transforming Your Care reform programme, NHS services will focus on helping elderly people to live in their own homes for as long as possible, rather than providing residential care. On Thursday, the Western Trust said that its intention was to close four NHS residential care homes and defended its actions, saying it had tried to be honest with people during its discussions. The southern and the northern trusts have already announced the potential closure of all their NHS residential care homes.