HSE takeover of Kerry nursing home 'a last resort'

Covid-19 concerns led to court order for HSE manager and senior nursing staff to be installed at Oaklands

A HSE manager and senior nursing staff were put into Oaklands Nursing Home, Listowel, at 5pm on Thursday, following a court order handed down under the Health Act on foot of an application by the Health Information and Quality Authority.

Cork-Kerry Community Healthcare has said it is rare and “a last resort” for the HSE to step in to take over the entire running of a private nursing home.

The health body's chief officer Michael Fitzgerald was seeking to reassure residents of Oaklands Nursing Home, Listowel, and their relatives that safety and wellbeing of residents is a priority after the HSE took over the running of the facility.