HSE vows hospital beds will reopen

The HSE has given assurances that six beds closed in Dingle’s new €16.4 million community hospital will be filled once agreement is reached on a new work roster for nurses.

Following the closure last week, Michael Dineen of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation described as “misleading and mischievous” Health Minister James Reilly’s statement that the closures were due to rostering.

The hospital, opened on Friday by Dr Reilly, is losing a quarter of its staff to public sector retirements at the end of this month, according to the INMO.

Mr Dineen said it will not be possible to maintain the same level of cover with such a reduction.

He also said the closure of six beds was announced last Tuesday without any consultation with nurses.

The HSE, however, said it intended to retain all 46 beds, adding that a plan had been put to the INMO for changes in rostering so as to continue the same level of service.

A HSE spokesman said discussions were being undertaken with the INMO under the auspices of the public service agreement.

The agreement allows for flexibility across public service staff in order to provide continuity of service despite staff cuts.

As well as providing residential care for mainly elderly people in the Dingle Peninsula, the hospital offers a wide range of community supports, including convalescent care, respite care, hospice care and direct GP admissions.

Also on the campus is a mental health day care centre, a day care centre for older people, Southdoc facilities and an ambulance base for the Dingle area.