Carroll hits out at 'plan to close respite beds' in Birr

Local councillor John Carroll has called on the HSE to clarify its future plans for Birr's Community Nursing Unit, saying it's his understanding that "plans are advancing" to close the two respite beds in the facility.

"I am shocked and angered to hear from reliable sources within the HSE that plans are advancing to close our two respite beds in Birr Community Nursing Unit," the Independent councillor said in a statement earlier this week.

"It would appear that one bed in Banagher and one in Shinrone have been leased, and that is where our respite patients will be expected to go.

"The two beds in Birr presently available for respite will now go for rehab, which will need extra resources to be recruited and, knowing from past experience the challenges this poses for the HSE, I would fear other services such as Daycare could be curtailed to provide this extra staffing need."

He said the members of the Birr Municipal District had been given commitments in the past around "the maintenance of the vital services then available" in the nursing unit.

"I expect as a matter of decency (that the HSE would) consult the council if they intend making fundamental changes to services being provided in that facility.

"I now call on the general manager for older people in HSE to tell the public, via their elected representatives, what she plans for our Community Nursing Unit in Birr .

"To move our patients availing of respite in CNU to a private service provider is unacceptable," he concluded.