Ms Susan Mullins:

There is an issue with respite for carers. We have heard about this from the other groups who have come before the committee. Carers at home are carrying so many elderly people and people with additional needs. These carers are getting no breaks because there is no respite. Nursing homes, which may have had a couple of beds for respite, are contracting. In Carrick-on-Suir we had St. Brigid's for 180 years. When people needed respite, the hospital was there. It might have only been for a few days but it was there. That rug has been whipped from under people. This has been going on for three years. We can see the toll it is starting to take on people. There is nowhere to go for respite care.

Respite and convalescence beds are a huge loss and the situation with palliative care is horrific. It is dreadful. My father was in one of the palliative care rooms. They were amazing. They were funded by the people of Carrick-on-Suir who believe they are stakeholders in this. We were completely brushed aside. We paid for so much through our own fundraising for windows, doors, the lift and the palliative care rooms. We put so much of ourselves into the hospital. At practically every second funeral, there was a box for donations for St. Brigid's. It was always there and people always contributed. Its loss is particularly felt by people who do not have their own transport. People in a caring role are getting no break. They will break down themselves and the person they are caring for will end up having to go to hospital.

It was incredible to listen to everybody and see it is happening nationwide. It is as if we are going backwards. We had St. Brigid's 180 years ago and now it is being closed down. There is no accountability. We received a copy of the minutes, thanks to the committee. It has been the only voice for the people of Carrick-on-Suir and the area to communicate their distress and grief at losing this hospital which gave facilities to the most vulnerable. Only for this, we would never have got anything. We were brushed aside when trying to get information from the arrogant HSE. The committee looked for minutes when the HSE came before it which was fantastic. Minutes were produced but they were completely redacted. There was one line left in the whole thing. It was offensive to everybody who sits on the committee.