Ms Anna Cronin:

The stressful aspect must be huge. I am involved with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. It is a visitation conference. We meet people who live alone in isolated areas. I have spoken to individuals who described to me how much they loved the day care centre, the social interaction and the fun. One individual was taught how to use a computer and was then able to communicate with his family who were on the other side of the world. Then there are the carers, who do not get the space, rest and respite they desperately need. The reality is that the numbers were in the 20s in the past and it was six days a week. We are now down to three days in the hotel - we have a splendid hotel in Loughrea but it is not a day care centre - and one day in the day care centre. Unfortunately, all the facilities that were available to the attendees, such as the chiropodist and the hairdresser, are no longer available. When people were referred by the public health nurse to the day care centre, their needs were assessed and there was communication with the families. It was a wonderful structure and it has been dismantled. Covid-19 came and, unfortunately, the service has not been - what shall I say? - resurrected. It has not been returned. We are perplexed. We do not understand. We know the day care centre was taken over by administrative staff in Saint Brendan's Community Nursing Unit. It was used for coffee breaks because space was needed. That is as it was. I noted that the HSE stated it used the day care centre during the Covid-19 pandemic for Christmas parties because it had the space. As everyone will be aware, that was absolutely forbidden. There were no parties. There was no interaction. People died without having even one person beside them. That was forbidden. The HSE is making statements that do not add up.