Cllr Brid Smith Condems Closure of Respite Care unit at Cherryorchard Hospital

dublin | miscellaneous | press release Friday June 19, 2009 19:16 by PBPA - People Before Profit Alliance brid.smith at peoplebeforeprofit dot ie 0879090166

Public Meeting Will Launch Campaign To Save Respite Service

Carers and their loved ones who receive roll-over respite care in Cherryorchard Hospital have been informed by the HSE that the newly refurbished Beech Unit at Cherryorchard Hospital is to close indefintely.

The management at the hospital have told Councillor Brid Smith that the closure of the Beech is due to staff shortages for the Summer months. However, they could not give any guarantees as to when it will reopen.

Nurses who are taking annual leave and maternity leave are not being replaced. The HSE embargo on recruitment is once again seriously hurting patients receiving respite care and their families.

Last year the carers campaigned strongly with Brid Smith to stop the permanent closure of respite care services in Cherryorchard Hospital. They collected thousands of signatures, lobblied politicans and held two very large demonstrations through Ballyfermot up to the Hospital. The respite care services were sucessfully re-instated at that time. Following that campaign the Beech unit at the hospital was renovated and extended. This new and beautiful facility will now lie empty due to cuts.

Cherryorchard managemet have told Councillor Smith that all roll-over patients would receive respite care in private nursing homes as close as possible to where they live for the duration of the closure. But Councillor Smith says

"The cost to the HSE of placing patients in private nursing homes for the period of the closure of the Beech Unit could amount to more than what it would cost to employ temporary nursing staff. Taking nurses and care workers off the dole would be much more sensible and cost effective. Such workers would be paid and taxed and would not be receiving social welfare benefit. The idea of pumping the money into private nursing homes is objectionable when public money could be used to employ nurses and give the patients the on-going care they deserve in the surroundings they are accustomed to. We call on the HSE to once again change their policy in relation to respite care and to keep the Beech unit open."

The knock-on effect of the closure of the Beech unit would mean shifting permanent patients into other units such as the Laurel. It will also mean longer waiting periods for families whose loved ones need permanent respite beds in the hospital.

Carers and their families will be holding a public meeting in Ballyfermot on Tuesday 30th June at 8pm in the Civic Centre along with the local councillors. It is their intention to campaign yet again to save the respite services and put pressure on the HSE to keep the Beech unit open. Brid Smith said "The carers and their families are ready and willing to march and fight again to save these services. This public meeting is for all concerned across West Dublin - in Ballyfermot, Bluebell, Palmerstown, Tallaght and elsewhere."

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT COUNCILLOR BRID SMITH AT 087 9090166