Cork continence clinic needs HSE funding to add to charitable donations for 'vital' work

Padraig Mallon of the Crann Centre said: “We know that our services are saving the HSE significant money- up to €100,000 for each pressure wound which we prevent from ultimately requiring hospitalisation."

From left: Padraig Mallon, CEO, Crann Centre; Kate Jarvey, founder and chair Crann; Taoiseach Micheál Martin; Anne Rabbitt, TD and Andreas Moynihan TD at the Crann centre in July. Crann is now the only community service that covers both bowel and bladder incontinence, the Oireachtas Health Committee heard. File picture: Brian Lougheed

A Cork-based group is providing “unique and vital” continence training to nurses and special needs assistants (SNAS) to support people with disabilities but receives no State funding.

Crann provides a Continence Clinic, a service it said is recognised by the HSE and medics as being a unique and vital addition to services for children, adults and families with referrals increasing weekly. But it is funded entirely through charitable donations, Padraig Mallon of the Crann Centre told the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Disability.