Respite care “temporarily” suspended at Ofalia House

Issues surrounding staff recruitment and replacement has led to the HSE's decision to “temporarily suspend†respite care services at Ofalia House in Edenderry. The organisation said that the decision was taken in the “interest of patient care†and was reached in order to ensure that the highest standard of care will continue to the available to residents of Ofalia House, which is also a nursing home. Around 20 elderly people who avail of this service at Ofalia House received letters from the HSE in the days before Christmas, informing them that the service was to be withdrawn from January 1, until further notice. Meanwhile, the INMO said that there are 12 beds closed at the nursing home. The HSE confirmed the suspension of respite services to the Offaly Independent on Wednesday. A statement said: “The HSE apologise for any inconvenience this may cause to the families concerned. The HSE will be working to restore respite services at Ofalia House at the earliest opportunity.†The clients have been offered respite places at Bethany House in Tyrrellspass, Co. Westmeath and this service will be arranged for the clients following the normal respite request procedure. Cllr Noel Cribbin (Ind) has called on Taoiseach Brian Cowen to met with local representatives and to find out what is planned for the future of Ofalia House. The Taoiseach opened Ofalia House 15 years ago, when he was Minister for Health. “Ofalia House is one of the best care services you can get. Last week I was up there at dinner-time and they were getting the best care and attention to detail,†said Cllr Cribbin. “The patients love it, the staff love it and the locals love it.†He said that clients don't want to go to another home for respite, because it's hard to get used to new staff and it would be more difficult for relations to visit. He said that due to retirements and other reasons, staff numbers have reduced at Ofalia House and they haven't been replaced due to the public service recruitment embargo. “It's a serious concern for all here,†he added. “If it keeps going the way it is, it could be downgraded and eventually closed.†Offaly County Cllr Noel Bourke (FF) said that the cut in respite care was a “retrograde step†and should not happen. “This is a very important part of the work carried out in Ofalia House and families need the service and have come to depend on it,†said Cllr Bourke. “To remove it would be a big let down to those who avail of it.†He said that the HSE is supposed to be a caring organisation but by curtailing this service they are not behaving in a caring way. “I am calling on the HSE to retain this service in its present form and I would hope that the new Head of the HSE, Mr Cathal Magee, whom I know from his time in Bord na Mona, will take the necessary steps to ensure that a responsible approach is taken on this matter and that the service is left in place,†he said. He said that he will be pursuing this matter further.