Residents due to move into Athlone's new community nursing unit next week

After years of planning and preparation, residents and staff from St Vincent's Care Centre in Athlone are set to transfer to the newly-built Heartlands Care Centre in Clonbrusk next week.

On Monday, the HSE confirmed to the Westmeath Independent that, subject to HIQA registration approval, "all residents will transfer to Heartlands Care Centre during the week of (Monday) March 23".

A spokesperson said a "transitional plan" had been drawn up which would see the 38 St Vincent's residents being moved to the new facility over the course of a four-day period next week.

"The existing staff team will transfer to the new facility alongside the 38 residents, with the move carefully coordinated to ensure continuity of care and minimal disruption for residents and their families," said a statement issued by HSE spokesperson Gearóid Rennicks.

He added that the HSE had submitted a formal application for the registration of the Heartlands Care Centre with the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), and that "a decision is anticipated to be received next week" in relation to the registration.

It was previously indicated that seven extra staff were being recruited for the Heartlands Care Centre, to work alongside the staff members transferring from St Vincent's.

When asked about the seven additional posts, the HSE said the "recruitment and associated paperwork" for these positions was "currently in progress".

It was announced in late 2022 that construction work would begin the following year on the new community nursing unit in Athlone.

The facility was part of a grouping of seven community nursing units that were to be designed, built, financed and maintained by a Dublin-based company, Equisisk.

It was reported that Equisisk would be paid €24 million annually by the HSE, for 25 years, as a result of its involvement in delivering and maintaining the nursing units.

The HSE said this week that no date had yet been arranged for an official opening ceremony to mark the launch of the Heartlands Care Centre.

"At this stage, no date has been confirmed for an official opening of the new premises," said the HSE spokesperson.

"The immediate priority is ensuring the safe and smooth transition of residents and staff to the new centre once all regulatory requirements have been completed."

The new community nursing unit will have 48 beds, and will also become the new home of the South Westmeath Hospice, with four level-2 palliative care support beds being provided.

A level-2 facility involves palliative care being provided to patients with more complex needs, delivered by healthcare professionals with additional training.

A joint statement last month, issued by the HSE and the South Westmeath Hospice Foundation, confirmed the two sides had come to an agreement over the relocation of the palliative care beds from the St Vincent's Care Centre site to Heartlands Care Centre.

As part of the agreement, the HSE reimbursed the South Westmeath Hospice Foundation with a settlement of €1.9 million, which the local committee said would now be used "to further enhance and expand palliative care supports" in the region.

The first indication of a possible future use for the St Vincent's Care Centre site also came last month, when the HSE published its 'Building and Equipment Capital Plan' for 2026.

This plan allocated a sum of €56,140 towards 'appraisal' works on the establishment of a new mental health residential unit at St Vincent's Care Centre.

The town-centre facility was formerly St Vincent's Hospital and provided a number of healthcare services, including maternity care, in earlier decades.