National closure plans renew fears about future of St Vincent's

There is fresh concern this week about the future of St Vincent's Care Centre in Athlone after the Minister for Health James Reilly last week confirmed that up to 40 long-stay units nationwide are in danger of closing down. Speaking at an Oireachtas committee last Thursday, Minister Reilly said the rationalisation of community nursing units was unavoidable, and cited the figure of 40 facilities where budget cuts and staff shortages left their futures in doubt. The HSE Chief Executive Cathal Magee also went on to state that facilities with less than 50 beds were unviable, placing St Vincent's Hospital in jeopardy with around 40 patients at present. Subsequently, a list of 12 facilities around the country earmarked for closure was published in a national newspaper along with a further 28 where cuts would be imposed, which was said to have emerged from a HSE memo. St Vincent's Care Centre facility was not listed in the newspaper report. When contacted by the Westmeath Independent this week in relation to the worries about the Athlone facility, Deputy Nicky McFadden said she had lobbied the Minister on the issue, explaining how important the facility was to the town and the excellent care given to patients there. "We can breathe easy at the minute that Athlone hospital is safe. I can't give any guarantees about the future and it would be dishonest of me to do so," she said. "I've been given an undertaking by the HSE that the number of beds is not going to be reduced. It's about 40 at present." Although she admitted she was worried considering the shortage of money and the terrible legacy left by Fianna Fáil, Deputy McFadden said it didn't mean St Vincent's was closing at this point and she is hopeful things will get better. She said the HSE cannot close any more beds in Athlone because there are already so few but, there are fears among those close to the hospital that the facility could lose nursing staff in the next few weeks. Also in a statement this week, local TD Denis Naughten expressed fears for local facilities in light of the frank admission by Health Minister James Reilly and HSE Chief Cathal McGee that long stay hospitals for older people like St Vincent's Hospital will not only see numbers reduced but could in fact be closed to balance the health budget. When questioned on the issue at the Health Committee last Thursday by Deputy Naughten, the Minister stated that this was not the final list of bed closures and he would not rule out the complete closure of other facilities. The HSE Chief also went on to state that facilities with less than 50 beds are unviable. "Based on this it is clear that the HSE is planning for the closure of some facilities locally," stated Denis Naughten. Deputy Naughten called for honesty, requesting that the Minister and HSE be upfront and outline exactly what their plans are for these valuable facilities for older people. Speaking at the Oireachtas committee last, Mr Magee, the HSE Chief Executive also said two thirds of the long stay public beds around the country were below the required standard. He said it would cost between €600m and €900m to bring those beds up to the required level. Tommy Connaughton, the chairman of the campaign group set up to try and stop the closure of Loughloe House, close to a year ago now, also voiced his fears this week in relation to St Vincent's Hospital. "I'm fully convinced it will close," he said. "We are all convinced, anyone that was on that committee knows that it will close. As each person dies in there as well as the body coming out the bed does too. When I heard the Minister's comments last week I immediately thought St Vincent's Hospital will close," he stated. "No one patient has gone in there (St Vincent's Hospital) this year. There were 51 there last Christmas Eve. They (HSE) are not going to keep the staff in there with dwindling numbers," he complained, adding that he expects health authorities to say the unit is now uneconomic and tray and close it as they did with Loughloe House. A comment from the HSE on the issue was not forthcoming at the time of going to press (Tuesday afternoon).