Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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1619.To ask the Minister for Health in what year the new Nenagh community nursing home will open.[33973/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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In order to ease the significant pressures at University Hospital Limerick (UHL), a decision has been made to utilise the new Nenagh Community Nursing Unit building, on an interim basis, as a step down sub-acute and rehabilitation facility for UHL, which will be run by a private provider with expertise in such services.

This interim use of Nenagh CNU will greatly support the region pending the completion of the first of two new 96-bed blocks for UHL, scheduled to be completed in mid-2025. It is intended that Nenagh CNU will open for long-term residential care services 12 months after the contract commences with the private provider.

The current Community Nursing Unit at St Conlon’s in Nenagh will continue to provide excellent care to its residents during this interim period. The HSE is progressing plans for recruiting the staff required to operationalise the long-term residential care services in Nenagh CNU in 2025.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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1620.To ask the Minister for Health the dates, times and attendees of any meetings he or his officials have had regarding Nenagh community nursing home between 1 January 2023 and 24 July 2025.[33974/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Government remains fully committed to improving services across the Mid-West region. I have engaged extensively with the University of Limerick Hospitals Group (ULHG) and the HSE regarding the challenges currently being experienced, particularly in University Hospital Limerick (UHL).

On 4th April 2024, I visited UHL and met with management, including Regional Executive Officer Sandra Broderick, the Health Service Executive (HSE) CEO Bernard Gloster, as well as consultants and other clinical leaders. Following that visit I announced a package of measures to address overcrowding at UHL and deescalate the pressure experienced in the Emergency Department. These wide-ranging measures addressed capacity and reform of the health system in the Midwest region and have been supported by ongoing Government investment in the Hospital group.

In order to ease the significant pressures at UHL, a decision has been made to utilise the new Nenagh Community Nursing Unit (CNU) building, on an interim basis, as a step down sub-acute and rehabilitation facility for UHL, which will be run by a private provider with expertise in such services. The HSEs decision to progress plans for the interim use of Nenagh CNU was communicated to me on March 7, 2024. The HSE have kept me fully updated on all developments as arrangements have progressed regarding Nenagh CNU. Officials in my department, both in the acute hospitals and social care divisions, have been in constant and ongoing contact with HSE colleagues in relation University Hospital Limerick and Nenagh CNU.

This interim use of Nenagh CNU will greatly support the region pending the completion of the first of two new 96-bed blocks for UHL, scheduled to be completed in mid-2025. It is intended that Nenagh CNU will open for long-term residential care services 12 months after the contract commences with the private provider.

The current Community Nursing Unit at St Conlon’s in Nenagh will continue to provide excellent care to its residents during this interim period. The new Nenagh CNU will ultimately replace St. Conlon’s Community Nursing Unit. The HSE is progressing plans for recruiting the staff required to operationalise the long-term residential care services in Nenagh CNU in 2025.

This capacity measure to ease the significant pressures at University Hospital Limerick is one of several, which include the procurement of additional bed capacity near Ennis General Hospital, the delivery of the new 96 bed inpatient unit, a new rapid build 16-bed inpatient unit at UHL, and the accelerated construction of a second 96 bed block.

Following the announcement of the package of reforms, on the 20th April, I announced the appointment of an expert team to support reform and address the pressures on health services in the Midwest region. The team comprised:

• Ms Grace Rothwell, HSE National Director;
• Ms Orla Kavanagh, Director of Nursing and Integration at Waterford University Hospital; and
• Retired Emergency Medicine Consultant Dr Fergal Hickey.