Written answers
Wednesday, 22 November 2023
Department of Health
Hospital Transfers
Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
237. To ask the Minister for Health if, with regard to the proposed transfer of 68 elderly residents from units in Cherry Orchard Hospital, Dublin, to Bartra nursing home in Clondalkin, he will clarify the reason 68 vulnerable elderly residents in Cherry Orchard Hospital (many in receipt of palliative/end of life care or with advanced cognitive issues) have, in November last, received urgent notice they are being relocated en masse to another nursing home facility In Clondalkin by 20 November 2023, that that notice was given inconsistently or in some cases not at all, and the decision taken by the HSE without consultation with residents’ families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51561/23]
Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
238. To ask the Minister for Health if, with regard to the HSE’s proposed moving of 68 very vulnerable residents with complex care needs from Cherry Orchard Hospital to an alternative nursing home in Clondalkin, he will clarify how the decision to transfer them was made, in the absence of consultation with either residents affected or their families; if any consideration was taken to establish whether any other, less distressing/disruptive alternative was available on the hospital campus, to minimise the stress and trauma this move would cause to these very vulnerable people, many of whom suffer from cognitive difficulties, have very complex care needs and/or are in receipt of palliative/end-of-life care. [51562/23]
Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
239. To ask the Minister for Health if, with regard to the transfer of 68 very vulnerable elderly and frail residents from Cherry Orchard Hospital on foot of an ‘urgent evacuation’, he will clarify if he or his Department were aware that the HSE was made fully aware by HIQA of the issues surrounding the current ‘urgent evacuation’, at the end of June 2021, yet no works were commenced/undertaken in the intervening two-and-a-half years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51563/23]
Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
240. To ask the Minister for Health if, with regard to the ‘urgent evacuation’ of 68 vulnerable residents from Cherry Orchard Hospital, he will explain in detail, giving dates, of when the agreement between the HSE and Bartra to accept transfer of the 68 residents, specifically with reference to the date of the notice of that transfer as given, inconsistently, to the affected residents and their families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51564/23]
Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
I propose to take Questions Nos. 237 to 240, inclusive, together.
Cherry Orchard Hospital is a designated centre for the care of older people located on the Hospital campus in Ballyfermot, Dublin 10. The Centre comprises five units: Beech, Aspen, Hazel, Willow and Sycamore, housing 95 residents in total. There are 67 residents in the Willow and Sycamore Units and 118 staff.
In May 2023, a HIQA inspection identified concerns in relation to the flooring in both the Sycamore and Willow Units at Cherry Orchard Hospital. These presented a significant potential health and safety risk. A subsequent HSE review indicated that the flooring has underlying structural issues which require immediate remedial work.
The HSE has decided to close both Units and relocate the residents to Clondalkin Lodge, which is a private nursing home, on a temporary basis while the necessary structural works are completed. It is expected that the works will take a minimum of 1 year to complete. This decision was made to ensure the timely completion of the works and, ultimately, to be less intrusive and inconvenient to residents.
In consultation with HIQA, the HSE has considered several plans to address the works required that would have allowed residents to remain on-site during completion of works. However, it was agreed that to ensure health and safety of residents the units would close while the works were being carried out. This is in order to minimise disruption to residents and to comply with the HIQA requirement for a shorter timeline for the completion of works. The safety and wellbeing of residents and staff is the primary concern.
The HSE is working in consultation with residents, their families and staff while giving full consideration to health and safety concerns and regulatory compliance. There is on-going monitoring and risk assessment to ensure that there is no immediate hazard to residents.
The HSE has assured me that all residents will remain under the overall care of the HSE and that all supports that residents receive in Cherry Orchard will be provided at no additional cost to the residents transferred to Clondalkin Lodge.
As parts of the Deputy’s questions are an operational matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
No comments