Campaigners oppose elderly care move

CAMPAIGNERS are opposing a decision by the HSE to
transfer elderly patients from a nursing home to another purpose built unit.

It is understood that around 100 people met last week
in Brittas to voice their concerns about the recent announcement by the HSE
that it intends to close St Brigid’s Nursing Home at Crooksling.

The HSE said that it has decided to close the facility
on a phased basis over the coming months as it does not meet Health Information
and Quality Authority (HIQA) standards.

The health authority intends to transfer the majority
of the 90 or so patients at the Brittas nursing home to the new purpose built
Hollybrook Community Nursing Unit in Inchicore, which is currently lying empty
and has capacity for 50 beds.

In August Southside People reported that the HSE could
not open the

?¬12 million facility in Inchicore as it could not pay the staff
needed to run the facility due to the public service recruitment embargo.

Derek Reilly, Industrial Relations Officer for the
Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) said the move could have negative
consequences for the elderly patients involved.

“Crooksling is their home and people have been living
there for years,

? he said.

“They know the staff and they know their colleagues.
It is always traumatic to go somewhere else.

?

Cllr Criona Ni Dhalaigh (SF) criticised the HSE on the
issue.

“The patients in Crooksling are happy there and they
are safe, so there is no reason to do this,

? she said.

A spokeswoman for the HSE said the premises in
Crooksling would not meet environmental standards [set by HIQA] for residential
care.

“A complete rebuild would be required and there is no
capital funding available to do so,

? she said.

“The HSE will work with patients
and relatives to make sure that their transition is managed to the highest
standards.

?