Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this issue and thank the Minster of State for taking it. I raise the threat of closure, which is hanging over Midleton Community Hospital respite unit and which is causing fear. One of my party's local councillors has been working on this and I will quote from a recent article on the subject:

Concerns have been heightened an elderly care unit in east Cork will be closed for good.

The respite unit in Midleton was closed last December by the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, over fire and safety concerns at the community hospital.

The health watch dog found the internal doors were too narrow at the former 19th century workhouse.

The community facility that currently caters for 53 elderly was required to widen the entrance door to the respite unit for clients with walking aids and the wheelchair bound.

The article continued that the work was carried out soon after, but a follow-up inspection required additional double doors fitted in order to access the lift.

In a statement to theEast Cork Journalthe Health Service Executive said that it was committed to reopening the beds at Midleton Community Hospital as soon as possible and that it hoped to do so within a matter of weeks. While the HSE said the closure of the unit was a temporary measure, Sinn Féin Councillor Danielle Twomey said health officials fear HIQA will not allow the eight bed ward to reopen. She said uncertainty is part of the problem, fearing HIQA does not understand the devastating effect a permanent closure of the unit would have. The unit has given carers much-needed breaks from caring and elderly to socialise, which has been lost since December. Closing the short break unit permanently would pile even more pressure on already stressed cares of the elderly.

This relates to 53 elderly patients but there is also a knock-on effect on their families. This is a vital service. The Committee on Future of Mental Health Care discussed how we must keep families in their local areas and support local services for local people as did the Sláintecare report. I seek clarity on this as sometimes the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing. This is a fabulous community-based service which does great work and whose benefits to the elderly are incalculable. It is unimaginable that it might close over a couple of technicalities. It would devastate Midleton and the surrounding east Cork area.

In 2017 I tabled a parliamentary question for response by the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris. Under the residential care centres capital plan for 2016-2021, it was proposed to spend €10.3 million on a 50-bed community nursing unit within the grounds of Midleton Community Hospital, which was to be completed by 2021. I have seen no progress on this. I am worried about HIQA shutting down a centre that caters for 53 patients. It is necessary for that centre to remain open. On the other hand, the HSE and the Minister for Health have said they think it is appropriate to invest over €10 million in the same area for a 50-bed unit. I cannot understand what is being lost. I seek clarity and assurance for the people and service users in Midleton Community Hospital and the wider area generally that the unit will not close and that in coming years, we will see the new 50-bed community unit.

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