Call for Reilly to intervene over plans to move patients

An urgent intervention by Health Minister James Reilly is needed to prevent vulnerable people being put at a heightened suicide risk due to movement from their care home due to cuts, a senior TD has warned.

Labour Party chairman Colm Keaveney made the plea in response to plans to remove 17 adults from a high support Galway residential home to low support hostels against the advice of mental health experts.

HSE chiefs insist the measure is due to a fire safety report on the Toghermore Residence in Tuam and not cuts to frontline services, but Mr Keaveney branded the remarks a “smokescreen” and warned that similar moves may happen nationwide in order to reduce costs.