David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)
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I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I tabled the matter because of a commitment in the HSE south service plan to remove 13 long-stay beds from Dungarvan community hospital. The Minister of State will be aware that a number of short-stay beds were closed in the hospital last year and that was seen as a temporary measure. At the time, I said that I feared this was a prerequisite to the closure of long-stay beds in the hospital. The HSE issued a statement saying that would not be the case, that the hospital would not lose any long-stay beds, the closure of the short-stay beds was a temporary measure and that they would be reopened. Here we are a few short months later and an announcement has been made to close 13 beds.

A statement from HSE south says: "As a result of staff retirements, it will be necessary to reduce the long-stay bed complement of the community hospital in Dungarvan by 13." I have correspondence from Unite trade union and I spoke to some members of staff who have been informed by the hospital management that the intention is to close St. Michael's ward, which is a 16-bed ward. Which is it? We need to know and, in particular, the relatives of the patients need to know what is happening. Is it what the HSE outlined in its service plan, that 13 beds will be closed? Is it what HSE management is on the record as saying, that there will not be ward closures and that a number of beds across a number of wards will be closed? Is it the case that the hospital management are right and it is going to be the closure of the ward and the loss of the 16 beds?

I got a phone call yesterday from the son of a resident in St. Michael's ward. The resident is 92 years of age, has been there for many years and is very comfortable in the ward. The family is very concerned that if that individual is moved, it will have an impact on his quality of life. HIQA has examined St. Michael's ward on three occasions and while it expressed some reservations about the size of the canteen, it had no concerns about safety.

HSE management says this must happen and the beds must go because of staff shortages and non-replacement of staff who are leaving. Does this not demonstrate again that the embargo on public sector recruitment and voluntary redundancies in the health service are impacting on patient care and are resulting in beds being taken out of the system? Would the Minister of State agree that in a place like west Waterford, where there is an ageing population, as we have throughout the State, removing beds from the public system in hospitals like Dungarvan community hospital, will have long-term and short-term consequences? It does not make sense in a country with an ageing population to close long-term beds for the elderly.

Which will happen? Will we see the HSE's position that 13 beds across a number of wards will close or will we see the hospital management view that St. Michael's ward will close with the loss of 16 beds? Perhaps the Minister of State can offer some clarity.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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I thank Senator Cullinane for raising this issue. I am responding on behalf of my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch.

Recently the HSE confirmed its commitment to sustaining 101 elderly long-stay beds between Dungarvan community hospital and Dunabbey House. Both units operate under the management of Dungarvan community hospital. The hospital serves the catchment area of Dungarvan and west Waterford. The old part of the hospital dates back to 1839 but has been refurbished over the years. Services are provided in six different units and the centre provides long-term care, rehabilitation, respite, convalescence, palliative and dementia-specific services. It also caters for the young chronic sick. At present there are 84 long-term bedsat the hospital.

Located very close to the hospital is Dunabbey House. This is a single storey, purpose-built unit and has operated as a designated centre for dependent persons since 1974. Dunabbey has capacity to provide long-term care for 30 residents. It operates as a stand-alone unit under the management structure of Dungarvan community hospital.

The current capacity for long-term care beds at both units is 114 beds. It should be noted that there is not at present maximum long-term bed occupancy in either Dunabbey House or Dungarvan community hospital, and 15 bedsin total are unoccupied.

The Senator will be aware that the moratorium on recruitment is impacting on the community hospital system in Waterford. The HSE south service plan for 2012refers to the closure of 13 long-stay beds at Dungarvan community hospital arising from the retirement of staff. It proposes to re-organise beds by moving residents to other parts of the hospital more appropriate to their needs, and to avail of superior long-stay accommodation in Dunabbey House. The HSE is involved in consultation with staff and patients on the proposal to reorganise beds at the hospital. I also understand that local Oireachtas Members have been invited to attend the hospital this Friday, 2 March, to view the different facilities and have further discussions on this matter.

The Senator will be aware that towards the end of 2011, 16 short-stay beds were closed at Dungarvan community hospital as a cost containment measure. These beds will be reopened on a phased basis over the next few weeks.

All developments must be addressed in the light of the current economic and budgetary pressures, and any decisions taken by the HSE must have regard to this and the current moratorium. However, the care of all residents in the hospital is a priority and the HSE has given assurances that no resident currently in the hospital or Dunabbey House will be disadvantaged in any way.

I trust the House will agree that we need to ensure the highest standard of care will continue to be provided to all residents in a safe and secure environment. Providing quality and safe care will always remain at the heart of any considerations.

David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)
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The HSE statement says: "As a result of staff retirements, it will be necessary to reduce the long-stay bed complement [at] the ... hospital ... by 13." The Minister of State referred to the HSE service plan, which talks about the closure of 13 beds. This may be difficult for the Minister of State but can she give a guarantee that it will be 13 beds? I do not want to see any beds lost at the hospital, and I have made the point that we are talking about long-stay beds for older people at a time when we have an ageing population, but the HSE is saying 13 beds will be closed. What I have been told by staff at the hospital and by Unite trade union that represents the staff is that it is intended to close St. Michael's ward, which has 16 beds. Can the Minister of State confirm 13 beds will be closed, not 16? I do not agree with any bed closures in the hospital because of the impact it will have on patient care, but people deserve to know exactly what will happen. I will attend the meeting in the hospital on Friday, to which the Minister of State referred. It is important, if the HSE is saying one thing and the hospital management is saying something else, that there is joined-up thinking and we are told by the HSE exactly what is happening in order that we can deal with it. Is the Minister of State in a position to confirm that only 13 beds will close, not 16?

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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I can only repeat what I have in writing from the HSE, that the HSE south service plan for this year refers to the closure of 13 long-stay beds at Dungarvan community hospital. That is the situation and, in addition to that in terms of numbers, there is a commitment that the 16 short-stay beds that were closed in the hospital are to reopen on a phased basis over the next few weeks. It is there in black and white. I do not know if the Senator attended the briefing on the service plan but presumably the situation was clarified at that. I am told the service plan provides for the closure of 13 beds, that is my understanding of the situation and I have no reason to believe that is not the case.