*Bill Slattery
The continued closure of almost half of all long term and respite beds at Ennistymon Community Hospital is causing serious concern and anxiety in the wider North Clare community, according to Clare Local Election candidate for West Clare Municipal District Bill Slattery.
Slattery, who was a sitting Fine Gael Councillor from 2011 to 2019 and is a candidate in the 2024 Local Election, said 6 respite beds have remained unused in the old wing of the hospital since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic with an additional 6 beds in the newly developed long-term ward, which is fully equipped having been due to open in June 2023, also remaining closed. 16 beds are currently open in another long stay ward at the facility.
Slattery says he has written to the Minister for Health requesting that the necessary resources and staffing be provided without delay. He also highlighted how the capacity issues in private nursing homes in the county is leaving members of the local community without fewer respite or long stay options.
“The HSE and the Department of Health could open these beds in the morning if they wanted to,” explained the Lahinch man. “Both wards are fully equipped but no progress has been made in securing the necessary resources and nurses to staff each of the two nursing stations. As a result, a much-needed community service is lying idle.”
Mr. Slattery said local people are having to look beyond North Clare for access to respite and long stay care because of the ongoing bed closures.
He explained, “The Friends of Ennistymon Hospital charity group has collected well over €1 million through local fundraisers and private contributions down through the years. These people, who have served the community diligently for many years, find themselves in a position where they and their family members are now struggling to secure accommodation either for respite or long-term care at the hospital. While the daycare centre at the hospital provides an invaluable community service, there is growing frustration amongst the local population around the continued closure of beds.”
Mr. Slattery received a response to his written request to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly confirming that the matter had been referred to Mary Butler, Minister of State for Mental Health & Older People for response.
