New 50-bed nursing unit in Athlone 'won’t open this year'

The opening of the new 50-bed Community Nursing Unit at Clonbrusk in Athlone, which is a replacement for the long-established St Vincent's Care Centre in the town, is now not expected to take place until 2026.

The building is to be officially known as 'Heartlands Care Centre' and the HSE said in a statement this week that it would also serve as a new home for the South Westmeath Hospice, with "four Level 2 Palliative Care support beds" being provided at the facility.

Construction work on the new Community Nursing Unit began in 2023 and, in an update on the project last autumn, the HSE said it expected construction to be completed in January of this year, and the facility to open in the third quarter of this year (July to September).

From external appearances the building looks to be substantially complete, and signage with the names, 'Heartlands Care Centre', 'Heartlands Day Centre' and 'South Westmeath Hospice' has been erected outside the premises.

A HSE spokesperson told the Westmeath Independent this week, however, that the construction process remained ongoing and that no residents would be moving in until next year.

"HSE Midlands Integrated Health Area can confirm that that the new building, Heartlands Care Centre, remains in construction phase," said the spokesperson.

"The HSE await receipt of a handover date from the contractor. It is expected that residents will move to the new premises in 2026, following handover of the centre and Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) registration."

Equisisk, a Dublin-based venture comprising investor Equitix and construction firm John Sisk & Sons, was appointed to design, build, finance and maintain the Athlone building and six other Community Nursing Units across the country for a 25-year period before handing back the facilities to the HSE.

A controversial aspect of the Community Nursing Unit's development has been the HSE's plan to relocate the South Westmeath Hospice, which was established and supported by a massive local fundraising effort, from its current St Vincent's site.

In recent years the South Westmeath Hospice committee has been engaged in a mediation process with the HSE about the future of the four-bed hospice unit.

The HSE spokeserson told the Westmeath Independent on Tuesday that this mediation process had now concluded.

"The four Level 2 Palliative Care support beds will be provided as part of the Heartlands Care Centre.

"Mediation process between the HSE and the South Westmeath Hospice committee, now referred to as the South Westmeath Foundation, is complete," the spokesperson stated.

When asked about the staffing arrangements for the new Community Nursing Unit, the HSE indicated that additional staff would be required in addition to the existing staff who will transfer from the St Vincent's facility.

"There are currently 58.10 whole time equivalent (WTE) staff employed providing care for residents in St Vincent’s Care Centre. The agreed level of additional staffing required will be recruited as the additional beds open in the new centre," it said.

St Vincent's Care Centre, previously known as St Vincent's Hospital, currently has capacity for a maximum of 35 residents requiring long-term or respite care.

The long-term plan for the St Vincent's site, once the new Community Nursing Unit opens, is currently unknown.