The lack of clarity from the HSE on when Nenagh’s Community Nursing Home will open is very worrying according to a local TD.
The €23 million state of the art facility was originally due to open over a year ago.
However the state funded building has been sequestered as a step-down facility for UHL and is currently being operated by a private provider.
Labour Deputy Alan Kelly says the HSE now appears to be rowing back on commitments as to when it would revert to its intended use as a nursing home.
“The HSE also committed that this would be open by July of this year when they took the facility and gave it to a private provider. In a recent Parliamentary Question they have now confirmed that they have no clue – no idea whatsoever – when they will open it for the community of Nenagh and surrounds, for the residents in St Conlon’s Home, for the families and all the people who are looking nursing home care for their loved ones.”
Deputy Kelly says this is at odds with recent comments on Tipp FM by a senior HSE official.
“Recently on Tipp FM the clinical lead Dr Terry Hennessy said that it would be open before the end of this year. That doesn’t seem to be the case anymore because as late as this week the HSE have replied to me and said there is no date.
“This is not acceptable and really this government are acting in a disgraceful way by maintaining this as a private facility being operated for the HSE by a private company.”
