Deputy Michael Lowry has confirmed a one-year only lease of the Nenagh Community Nursing Home to provide much needed relief for UHL.
He has had discussions this week with Senior Executives in the HSE to establish the factual position regarding the new Nenagh unit.
Bartra Healthcare has been awarded the contract to operate the facility as a step-down facility for University Hospital Limerick.
Deputy Lowry says the company operates similar units elsewhere in the country including Beaumont Lodge which is a 220-bed sub-acute Transitional Care Unit.
“This unit is successfully used by all the main hospitals in Dublin as a step down progressive care facility. The Nenagh unit is contracted for such a purpose to Bartra for one year only.
“A consultant led team of doctors, nurses and therapists will be on site. The facility will be run as community step down rehab and will support the clinical needs of those transferred from UHL.”
There has been significant anger among the local community as the Community Nursing Home was supposed to cater for patients transferring from St Conlon’s.
However Deputy Lowry says this will eventually happen.
“North Tipperary patients will benefit from this facility and will be prioritised for admission to the unit. The commencement date for transfer of the first patients is mid-August – this month.
“The unit will then transfer back to its original purpose as a Community Nursing Home with the transfer of patients from St Conlon’s in September 2025.”
