Second hospital for elderly may face delay in opening

THE opening of a second hospital for the long-stay care of elderly people in Kerry has been delayed because the building may not comply with standards required by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA).

HIQA is to undertake an inspection of the €10 million Tralee Community Hospital before it can be registered and approved for the admission of patients.

The opening of the €16.4m Dingle Community Hospital was held up for three months to allow the HSE time to get the building into line with HIQA standards.

The HSE then carried out recommended changes to the layout of the hospital and en-suite facilities.

It has now emerged the 50-bed Tralee facility — which was completed in 2008 but which has since lain unoccupied — may need alterations.

HIQA is undertaking a pre-registration inspection to ensure its standards are met.

A local lobby group in Tralee is also concerned about HSE plans to use 25 of the beds for rehabilitation.

Group spokesperson Cllr Mairead Fernane said they were “utterly devastated” by what was happening and at the prospect of losing beds which were intended for the elderly.

The HSE yesterday said it is awaiting the HIQA registration process which would determine the number of beds that could be registered for residential care purposes.