THE HSE said late last week that it would transfer HIV patients from a Southside hospital to a another unit, despite reports that the new facility would have less than half the beds that were originally planned.
In July, the HSE revealed that it intended to close the Rowan Ward at Cherry Orchard Hospital, which is the only unit in the country dedicated to the care of HIV patients.
The closure of the ward would involve the transfer of the patients to an existing homeless addiction service run by the Dublin Simon Community at Usher’s Island in Dublin 8.
The Rowan Ward currently has the capacity for 18 beds but the HSE stated in July that the new unit at Usher’s Island would have the capacity for just eight beds.
However, last Tuesday, on the Today show on RTE Radio 1, a spokesperson for the Dublin Simon Community said the new unit would have the capacity for just three beds.
Speaking to Southside People on Friday last, a patient at the Rowan Ward said the HSE had asked patients to leave by Saturday, September 1, so they could be transferred to the unit at Usher’s Island.
However, she said patients had refused to leave the ward because they had been informed earlier in the week by the Dublin Simon Community that the new unit at Usher’s Island would only have three beds and was not yet ready to be opened.
She also claimed that Minister for Primary Care, RoisÃn Shortall, visited the ward on Thursday last to attend an emergency meeting with the HSE about the uncertainty over the move.
“There are five people left on the ward,
? the patient said.
“We have been asked to go by tomorrow (Saturday, September 1) at 5pm. We are in limbo here,
? she said.
Deputy Joan Collins (PBP) said she was appalled to hear that the HSE attempted to discharge patients from the Rowan Ward in Cherry Orchard Hospital
“when there are clearly no backup services in place with the new Simon facility
?.
A spokeswoman for the HSE said the Rowan Ward would be closed by Monday and that there would be eight beds provided at Usher’s Island.
In addition, she said that nursing staff required to run the new unit would also be in place.
Southside People contacted the Dublin Simon Community and the office of the Minister for Primary Care RoisÃn Shortall (Lab) last week but there was nobody available for comment.