Respite services to resume at Birr Community Nursing Unit

Minister for Health Promotion, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy TD has welcomed confirmation from the HSE that respite services will resume at Birr Community Nursing Unit on a phased basis.
Minister Corcoran Kennedy met with HSE management to discuss the unacceptable closure of respite services and subsequently attended a meeting with HSE officials, representatives of the Birr 2020 group and carers in the Nursing Unit on Friday last.
“From the outset, I have been very active in calling the HSE to account for the decision to close the respite beds and I have persistently called on them to reinstate the services at Birr Community Nursing Unit. I was very concerned to learn that the respite services in Birr had been cancelled and the manner in which this was communicated by the HSE to the carers, their families, general public and public representatives left a lot to be desired.
“The HSE confirmed that services will be reinstated on a phased basis as new staff commence work at the nursing unit. Approval has been granted for a total of nine staff to include nurses and healthcare assistants. One nurse has already started work and the HSE has given assurances that another two nurses will be in place by the end of August al with three healthcare assistants,” said Minister Corcoran Kennedy.
“I very much welcome confirmation that respite beds will be opened one by one until the full seven are operational. This will come as welcome news to the patients and their families. The importance of respite provision for carers and their families cannot be overestimated. The Government’s policy is to allow people to remain in their homes for as long as possible and providing respite for carers is a significant part of that policy,” she added.
“The HSE has undertaken to contact all carers to establish if they are availing of the interim arrangement of respite care provision in Clover Lodge Nursing in Shinrone.
“I welcome the firm commitment from HSE management that there is no threat to the future of Birr Community Nursing Unit and that they remain fully committed to continuing the excellent care for the 76 full time residents as well as the other vital services they provide to the local community.”