Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Connolly for raising this really important matter. She referred to how she learned the news about the hospital. I learned from the Deputy's question and from a media query I got today. I am not happy with that at all. I would expect to be informed of any decision to close a ward or a hospital.

I begin by acknowledging, as the Deputy has, 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. As the Deputy has said, Clifden District Hospital has been primarily designated to provide convalescence care to patients stepping down from acute hospitals such as University Hospital Galway, as the Deputy mentioned. It cannot be underestimated how important these step-down respite beds are. This afternoon, I met Dr. Emer Ahern, who is the clinical lead for older people across the whole country and we spent a long time discussing respite, rehabilitation and the pathways for patients out of acute hospitals back home again. As we know, Clifden District Hospital provides respite beds to allow family carers in the community a welcome break.

At present, admissions to Clifden District Hospital have unfortunately been paused due to the lack of staff availability. HSE community healthcare west is actively working to recruit nursing staff. When I found out today through the Deputy's question and the press briefing that had come in, I looked for an update immediately. We are actively working to recruit nursing care and support staff in order to safely reopen the short-stay beds available in Clifden District Hospital. This also includes efforts to hire agency staff as an interim measure in order to resume services. I have been informed that no agency staff were available this week but that efforts will continue to recruit in the short term. I acknowledge that agency staff are not ideal because you need that continuity but at the same time if we can get them in the short term, that would be very important.

As the Deputy knows, Clifden District Hospital is located alongside St. Anne's community nursing unit on a shared campus in Clifden. There are 21 registered long-stay beds with HIQA in St. Anne’s community nursing unit and all beds are currently occupied. Clifden District Hospital has been operating seven beds over the past 12 months and these beds have been utilised for short-stay and respite admissions. As I stated, admissions to Clifden District Hospital have unfortunately been paused due to staffing constraints.

In the Clifden area, there have been significant challenges over many years to secure sufficient nursing staff, despite national, international and local recruitment drives. There are currently challenges in keeping both Clifden District Hospital and St. Anne’s community nursing unit open. However, staffing St. Anne’s community nursing unit has been prioritised as it provides long-term care to the 21 residents living in the facility who are there under the fair deal scheme.

I am acutely aware Clifden District Hospital is a vital element. I visited there last August and met Deputy Connolly on the same day. I was delighted to visit and to announce that there would be a new state-of-the-art 50-bed unit with en suite rooms. I am aware the planning application has been submitted and I think we expect word this week about that. At the same time, I am very conscious of those seven respite beds that have been lost. I will continue to focus on this to make sure those beds are opened as soon as possible and I will be updated weekly on the staffing situation.

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