Claims community hospital faces closure over Fair Deal scheme

A COMMUNITY hospital which provides long-term care to more than 30 elderly people is facing closure under new Government funding arrangements for nursing homes.

Supporters of Cobh Community Hospital in Co Cork expressed fears last night that its funding could be slashed today by €780,000 a year as part of the Fair Deal scheme, making it unviable.

Closure would result in the loss of some 40 nursing and care assistant jobs and would force over 30 elderly residents – including one individual who has lived at the hospital for quarter of a century – to find other accommodation.

“There will be marches on the streets and trains of protesters to Dublin. We’re not going to take this lying down,” said Toddy Stafford, chairman of the Friends of Cobh Hospital.

After almost 90 years’ involvement, the Bon Secours order handed the 38-bed hospital over to an independent board of governors, including local doctors and various nominees, about four years ago.

Today, the hospital serves a population of about 20,000 people and provides long-term and respite care to elderly residents.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) used to provide ‘section 39’ funding annually to help run the facility.

But under the Government’s Fair Deal scheme, which is administered by the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF), the facility is facing massive funding cutbacks – from €1,240 per bed down to €840 per occupied bed per week.

Mr Stafford said the Fair Deal scheme could see the hospital lose up to €15,000 per week – or €780,000 a year.

“The Fair Deal scheme has not been thought through. The level of funding which will apply may be enough for nursing homes, but it is not enough for the level of care which is provided at Cobh Community Hospital,” he said.

“Cobh has no other nursing home. If this hospital closed, it would mean that people would have to travel up to 30km to the nearest facility,” he added.

Cobh-based Labour Cllr John Mulvihill called on the area’s government TDs to intervene to save the hospital.

“We have been trying for years to get an ambulance base in Cobh. Now what do get? The hospital is under threat of closure,” he said.

The HSE has been made aware of the hospital board’s concerns ahead of a meeting today with a representative of the NTPF to discuss future funding arrangements.

Cork East Fine Gael TD David Stanton has tabled parliamentary questions to the Health Minister asking her to clarify the funding position.

“There is huge emotional attachment to the hospital,” he said. “It would be a very serious matter if the hospital had to close because of changes in funding administration.

“I am calling on the minister and the HSE to ensure that adequate funding is made available to keep the hospital open and that time be given for the hospital to adjust to the new funding scheme,” he said.