Nursing home campaign receives a boost

HEALTH campaigners fighting the closure of a Southside
nursing home received a boost last week.

The HSE is to readmit day care and respite patients to
St Brigid’s Nursing Home after officials announced in early October that the
facility would close on a phased basis because it would not meet Health
Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) standards.

The latest development has been welcomed by the St
Brigid’s Nursing Home at Crooksling Action Group which recently made a
submission to the Department of Health stating that they believe that the
physical deficiencies in the Brittas facility could be rectified without the
need for major investment.

Joyce Holden, the vice chairperson of the St Brigid’s
Nursing Home at Crooksling Action Group, told Southside People this was a good
outcome.

“The whole building has great potential and a lot of money
has already been pumped into it,

? she said.

“There is enough staff to cater for
more patients and it would only take a very small amount of money to keep it
open.

?

Health Minister, James Reilly, has decided to review
the HSE proposal to close the nursing home and has told campaigners he will
make a final decision on the matter in mid-March.

In the submission sent to Dr Reilly the campaigners
claim that if the nursing home was run at full capacity of around 110 patients
it would cost the HSE less on a cost per individual basis.

The submission also addresses some shortcomings in the
physical infrastructure of the nursing home.

The review is taking place in the context of a plan by
the HSE to significantly reduce the number of publicly run nursing home beds
nationally.

The HSE service plan for 2012 suggests that a minimum
of 555 and a maximum of 898 beds in publicly run community homes will close
this year.

Campaigners are holding a public meeting on Monday,
February 13 at 8pm at the Plaza Hotel, Tallaght.

A spokesperson for the HSE said management had agreed
to review the position regarding respite and day care admissions at St
Brigid’s.

“Management is about to enter a consultation with
regard to the proposed closure of St Brigid’s, Crooksling,

? the spokesperson
said.

“In this regard the HSE welcomes the submission by the action committee.

?

There was nobody at the Department of Health available
for comment.