Just two of seven promised nursing homes have opened amid concern over beds shortage
The facilities, being developed under a public-private partnership between the HSE and Equisisk, were announced in 2022 and were expected to be completed by 2024. Picture: iStock
Only two of seven nursing homes promised under a State-backed partnership have opened despite growing concern over an acute shortage of long-term care beds across the country.
The facilities, being developed under a public-private partnership between the HSE and Equisisk, were announced in 2022 and were expected to be completed by 2024.
While the project is due to provide 530 beds across Cork, Kerry, Tipperary, Westmeath, and Louth, just two centres have opened to date, with a third due to begin admitting residents this week.
The delays come amid warnings that Ireland is falling well short of the nursing home capacity required to meet the needs of an ageing population.
The ESRI has estimated that around 1,000 additional long-term residential care beds will be needed each year until 2040, but the sector has seen little growth.
A spokeswoman for Hiqa said seven nursing homes closed last year while four opened, resulting in a net increase of just 38 beds nationally. A further 217 beds were added through extensions to existing nursing homes.
In Cork, HSE South West has yet to open a new unit on the St Finbarr’s Hospital campus and is currently preparing an application to register the facility with Hiqa. It is understood talks with trade unions around staffing arrangements have not yet started.
A HSE spokeswoman said residents are expected to transfer to the facility on a phased basis in the autumn.
A home at Glenconnor in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, to replace St Anthony’s Unit, is also yet to open, according to HSE Dublin and South East.
A spokeswoman said it is working on Hiqa registration and equipping, which should “conclude shortly”. It is understood talks with unions on safe staffing have concluded.
The new St Columba’s nursing home in Thomastown, Co Kilkenny, is also only going through registration now.
HSE Dublin North East did not respond to queries about the new build in Ardee, Co Louth, which is believed to be registered with Hiqa as Ferdia Lodge.
Meanwhile, residents are due to begin moving into the new nursing home in Killarney this week, according to HSE South West.
A new facility in Midleton, Co Cork, has already begun admitting residents, including people transferring from the town’s community hospital.
The first of the seven centres to open was the Heartlands Care Centre and Day Care Centre in Athlone, which was officially launched in June by minister of state for older people Kieran O’Donnell.
HSE Dublin and Midlands said it offers replacement beds for residents from St Vincent’s Care Centre and users of Athlone Older Persons Services Day Care Centre.
Nursing Homes Ireland chief executive Tadgh Daly called for “a mature conversation” about the sector, explaining that occupancy rates across the country are 94.9% and an indication of the demand. He said families are calling him directly asking about beds due to shortages in some areas.
“The lack of availability of beds is acute,” he said. “We’re not planning, there’s no surprises here. The population is ageing and we should celebrate that.”
The rollout of the seven nursing homes has been “disappointing”, especially as they are mainly outside cities, said Mr Daly, arguing that the funding model for nursing homes means it is less likely that large private investors will move into rural areas.
“It’s public knowledge some providers are talking about getting out of the sector. That lack of confidence is impacting on current and future provision,” he said.
Mr Daly called for the Government to publish its long-term residential care additional capacity plan, which was due last year.
Health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill told the Dáil last month that it “will be published in the later part of this year”.
Mr Daly said: “It’s frustrating — let’s publish the review and have a mature conversation around this.”
“It shouldn’t be public vs private despite the fact we’d have some misgivings around the both the capital cost and the current cost.”
He noted a recent HSE announcement for a new €50m nursing home in Roscrea, Co Tipperary, with capacity for 50 beds.
- Niamh Griffin, Health Correspondent
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