Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her response. She hit the nail on the head with the last sentence of first paragraph with regard to ensuring we keep our elderly at home as much as possible. However, we need to give respite to the carers and family members who mind them, which is why we need the beds in the hospital to be kept open.

Fermoy has taken a hit with regard to the provision of community beds for elderly people. Under the previous Government we lost between 35 and 40 beds with the closure of the St. Francis Welfare Home. This was a big hit to the town of Fermoy and its catchment area. With regard to the loss of the beds, it is all fine to say we are moving to private nursing homes, but the Minister of State must admit the community hospitals also provide ancillary facilities such as physiotherapists and occupational therapists. This is why it is important to keep community hospitals up and running.

I am concerned, and I am open to correction, but I feel that as well as the staff being overworked, a conflict has arisen between staff, management and the HSE and that morale is a bit low. I would like the Minister of State to investigate this. More should be put in place because while the staff are working hard, they should have the goodwill of the entire HSE management behind them.

Previous Government investment in the hospital must be acknowledged. The first time I went to Fermoy community hospital was back in 1980 as a member of the Legion of Mary, and by God it was not somewhere one would have liked to have walked through.

We used to visit other nursing homes in Fermoy, but Fermoy Community Hospital was the last choice on the list. However, down through the years - excuse me for the pun - people have been dying to get into St. Patrick's Community Hospital in Fermoy because the facilities have been so well upgraded. I thank the Minister of State for her response and her interest. I hope these wards can be opened and up and running again as soon as possible.

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