HSE chief backs repurposing of new nursing home for hospital use, despite local concerns

The recently-completed 50-bed unit in Co Tipperary had been expected to open this month, with nursing home residents preparing to transfer

Bernard Gloster defended the building's use as a stepdown facility for UHL. Picture: Gareth Chaney

The chief of the HSE has supported plans to temporarily repurpose a newly-built nursing home in Co Tipperary for hospital use, despite local concerns.

The 50-bed unit is recently completed and was being fitted out with beds and other equipment. 

It had been expected to open this month, with residents at an older nursing home in Nenagh, the St Conlon’s home, preparing to transfer.

Now Bernard Gloster has spoken out in defence of the plan to instead use this building as a stepdown facility for University Hospital Limerick.

He said the unit will eventually “service its long-term purpose" of being a community nursing unit.

“But we have proposed and we are proceeding with a plan to temporarily change the use of that and to operate it as a sub-acute unit,” he told the Oireachtas Health Committee this week.

The newly-built nursing home in Nenagh is to be used as a stepdown facility for University Hospital Limerick. Picture: Brendan Gleeson

“That would immediately give us 50 stepdown beds," he said.

Overcrowding continued at UHL today, with 98 people without a bed. This was the highest among 32 hospitals monitored by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO). 

The decision to repurpose the facility was made by HSE regional executive officer for the Mid-West, Sandra Broderick. 

She has met with health unions in recent days regarding their concerns.

Fórsa assistant general secretary Mike McNamara wrote to her, stating the union's “outright objection” to how the plan was communicated to staff and unions. He has met with Ms Broderick, as have Siptu and the INMO.

“She apologised for not consulting with the unions in advance of making this decision, and went on to explain that as the new nursing home is not yet registered with Hiqa, and noting that this would take some time, that she has decided to repurpose the new building as a stepdown facility for UHL for a period of about 12 months," Mr McNamara said.

The union is now examining its next steps. 

Key concerns for local families are the waiting list for St Conlon’s and the fact that this premises has been criticised by nursing home regulator Hiqa. 

It has admission restrictions following inspections and Hiqa deemed 15 rooms too small for anyone in need of mobility assistance.

Local people, including Eamonn Donnellan, whose father was on a waiting list for the new unit, had hoped it would see people placed more quickly in their own locality.