Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Griffin for the question and for his constant advocacy for West Kerry Community Hospital. It is not the first time the Deputy has raised it here on the floor of the Dáil.

West Kerry Community Hospital provides important and valued services for people in the west Kerry area. The hospital has 46 beds registered, of which 35 are long-stay beds and 11 are short-stay beds, including two respite and one palliative care bed. The maximum number of people who can be safely accommodated in the hospital are currently being accommodated.

The intention of the HSE is to continue to sustain the current workforce to maintain the 46 beds in the centre into the future. Considerable efforts are also being made to increase staff numbers and bed capacity in west Kerry, as well as to facilitate clear pathways for the transition of patients from the acute sector to the community.

However, similar to other hospitals in remote locations, staff recruitment challenges have unfortunately had an impact. Cork Kerry Community Healthcare continues to endeavour to recruit staff to increase the number of community beds for the region and maximise the services available. The HSE will continue to seek qualified and interested candidates through recruitment campaigns undertaken at national, regional and local levels.

I advise the Deputy that the HSE is collating the information requested concerning current staffing levels and the breakdown of staffing and beds over the past five years. I will arrange to have this information forwarded to him in the coming days.

I agree with the Deputy, especially in respect of rural areas. The whole premise of Sláintecare entails the right care at the right time, as close to home as possible. When people need long-term care or short-stay, respite or palliative care, it is important to provide that service in their own community.

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