Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is seldom we hear a Minister of State say that a Deputy should continue. I am taking this important matter on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, who has a dose of flu. I thank Deputy Connolly for raising it.

I will begin by acknowledging the vital healthcare role that Clifden District Hospital plays and the excellent level of care and support which it provides to patients and their families in the Clifden community and surrounding areas. I assure Deputy Connolly that there are no plans to close Clifden District Hospital. However, we are aware of the various challenges that the facility is facing. I assure the Deputy that the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, is committed to working alongside HSE Community Healthcare West to address these issues. As Deputy Connolly is aware, Clifden District Hospital has been primarily designated to provide convalescent step-down care to patients discharged from acute hospitals. It also provides respite beds to allow family carers in the community a welcome break. However, with the evolution of Sláintecare and the transition of care from acute to community settings, the need for these step-down beds has reduced.

In the Clifden area, there have also been significant challenges over many years to secure sufficient nursing staff, despite national, international, and local recruitment drives. This is the case both in Clifden District Hospital and in St. Anne's Community Nursing Unit, a designated centre registered with HIQA to provide a home for older people. HSE Community healthcare west, in keeping with its commitments to political representatives, its staff, and their representatives, undertook a bespoke nurse recruitment process in October. At a minimum, four additional nurses are required to sustain the current residential older people services in both St. Anne's Community Nursing Unit and Clifden District Hospital. The HSE will continue to undertake bespoke campaigns to fill these vacancies but continues to face challenges filling these posts. HSE Community healthcare west has assured the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, that it will continue to review service needs and what services can be provided based on the available staffing. It will also continue to engage with staff, unions, GPs and political representatives in this regard.

I would like to inform the Deputy that last November HSE Community Healthcare West met local GPs. The GP engagement involved an initial meeting with HSE management and a follow-up meeting with a consultant geriatrician. The consultant geriatrician outlined the integrated care programme for older persons, ICPOP, services being rolled out as part of the enhanced community care programme, including the visiting satellite clinics based in Clifden District Hospital. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, was delighted to hear that the visiting clinic commenced last month with an expected monthly service from the consultant geriatrician and a twice monthly service from the ICPOP team, incorporating physiotherapy, occupational therapy, dietetics and nursing. This is a welcome addition to services provided in Clifden District Hospital.

The day service at Clifden District Hospital remains in operation, and a new bus service is available to those seeking to access it. HSE Community healthcare west is aiming to expand this service. It is important to highlight again that there are no plans to cease services or close Clifden District Hospital at present . The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, will continue to engage with the chief officer in HSE Community healthcare west to ensure the continuation and possible expansion of services in Clifden.

As a Minister of State who represents Galway, I would certainly like to see Clifden District Hospital remain in full operation. I give my full endorsement to its operation, knowing the geography of the county as I do. I can leave my house in Portumna and be in Leinster House quicker than I would ever be on the far side of Galway city. It is very important to understand the size of Galway and the geographical need. There is also the ageing population and the valuable role that Clifden District Hospital plays in the community.

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