Residents transferring to Athlone's new community nursing unit this week

The HSE said residents and staff are currently in the process of transferring to Athlone's new community nursing unit.

Their move to the new facility, from St Vincent's Care Centre in the town, is coming a week later than previously indicated.

Earlier this month the HSE had said that, subject to HIQA registration approval, "all residents will transfer to Heartlands Care Centre during the week of (Monday) March 23".

When contacted by the Westmeath Independent this week, a HSE spokesperson indicated that the HIQA registration of the new centre was not finalised until Friday last, March 27.

"HIQA registration for the Heartlands Care Centre was received on March 27, 2026," the HSE spokesperson said. "The service is transitioning from (yesterday) Monday, March 30, with full transfer to be completed on Friday, April 2."

A total of 38 residents from St Vincent's are due to transfer to the new facility, along with its current staff and some new additional staff.

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

The HSE spokesperson told the Westmeath Independent that the palliative care beds will transfer to the Heartlands Care Centre "by Friday, April 2".

Construction work on the Heartlands Care Centre began in 2023 with work at the site, which is across from the Arcadia Retail Park, being completed last autumn.