Hospital supporters ‘betrayed’ by HSE silence

A VOLUNTARY group which has fund-raised for years to prop up services at a community hospital in Co Cork says it feels “disgusted and betrayed” by the HSE’s refusal to say what’s happening about repeated promises to extend the facility.

The Friends of Bandon Hospital claim that for weeks they have unsuccessfully demanded information from the HSE about stalled plans to create an extension at the hospital, which would have brought the number of beds from 23 up to 40.

It’s expected that hundreds of angry people will attend a public meeting in Bandon next Monday, April 11, to discuss the issue.

Friends of Bandon Hospital chairman, Liam Crowley, said plans for the extension were mooted as far back as 1992 and it was several years later before the Department of Health eventually agreed to set aside money for the project.

He said that the current single-storey hospital, built in 1929, is highly maintained and conforms to all regulatory requirements. But it doesn’t adequately cope with demand in what is the largest population area in West Cork.

“It only has 23 beds for geriatric patients, but has only one bed available for respite care. One of the main reasons we looked for the extension was to provide more respite care. But the elderly population of the area is constantly growing and it’s important more beds are made available,” Mr Crowley said.

He said staff provide palliative care for predominantly elderly people of mixed dependency.

The hospital serves the people of Bandon town along with a wider community of people covering a 24 to 32km radius ranging west to Clonakilty and south as far as Kinsale.

Mr Crowley pointed out that the hospital was one of the best run in the country.

“It has been accredited by Leeds University on two occasions, which just shows the very high standard of the hospital,” he said.

Mr Crowley added that a Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) audit, carried out in December 2009, said the HSE should ensure each patient had adequate private accommodation.

In order to achieve this the extension needs to be built, Mr Crowley claimed.

He said the Friends of Bandon Community Hospital had on numerous occasions sought information from the HSE on whether the extension would now be built.

“We believe failure of the HSE to respond to our emails is deliberate, unprofessional, is unacceptable and typical of the attitude of the public sector.

“We are merely seeking an answer regarding the whereabouts of funds sanctioned by the Department of Health and when the HSE intend to commence this project. We feel disgusted and betrayed (by the lack of information),” Mr Crowley said.

He added that the voluntary organisation had raised around €100,000 towards the hospital’s running costs over recent years and, as such, thought it was at least entitled to know where the hospital’s future lies.

“Be assured we are not going to lie down and take this any more,” he added.

When asked what stage the planned extension was now at, a HSE spokesman said it had requested a meeting with the Friends of Bandon Community Hospital on April 7 and was awaiting a response from that organisation.

The spokesman offered no further information.