Senator confident nursing home will not close

A Labour Senator has said he is confident that the Abbeyleix Community Hospital will not be closed by the HSE.

Senator John Whelan's comments come after the Minister for Health, James Reilly, visited the Co. Laois facility today.

The Community Hospital had been due to close on financial grounds but a High Court challenge to its closure last month, was settled to allow a 12-week consultation to take place.

Subsequently, the HSE gave a commitment to hold a consultation process with any nursing homes that are being considered for closure.

Laois-Offaly based Labour Senator John Whelan said he doesn't believe this is on the cards for the Abbeyleix Community Hospital.

Senator Whelan said: "I'm convinced that as a result of the minister's visit today, he will have seen first-hand the quality of the facility.

"We have had HIQA reports on hospitals like the one in Portlaoise which gave it an exemplary rating.

"The reality is that this cannot just be about balancing the books, it's about elderly care and I believe Abbeylex will be not be closed and should not be closed and I think ultimately that will be the outcome."