The HSE’s decision to close St Francis public nursing home as a residential facility and instead operate it as a daycare centre has been described as a “huge loss” to Galway.
City councillor Billy Cameron says the 18-bed home was the “jewel in the crown” of nursing units for the standard of care it delivered.
“This [closure] has been flagged for a number of years, the home has been run down in certain respects. It’s the economic situation we are in. At some time in the last 10 years the PD/Fianna Fail Government decided to focus more on private health care rather than sustaining facilities like this in local areas.
“The closure of St Francis’ home will be a huge loss not only to the city but equally to the hinterland. People were accommodated from all over the city and county there. The fact that in its lifetime it will remain as a daycare facility is a minor benefit.”
The Labour councillor who works as a postmaster in Newcastle, says he is concerned that remaining residents will have to be “uprooted” and transferred to other locations.
“At this time of their lives where they are enjoying the comforts society can provide they will have to be uprooted from somewhere which is familiar to them and transferred to a new environment. That is not easy.”
Cllr Cameron praised the home’s staff for their high levels of concern and care for patients.
“This was a very well run home down through the years. It had quality staff and management who showed concern and gave their all. It was probably the jewel in the crown of nursing units for the standard of care it delivered. I’d have known some of its residents who would have come to the post office for their pensions. The closure of the home is certainly the end of an era, it is a huge loss and the worry it creates for families of elderly residents there in times like this is not needed.”
Fine Gael senator Fidelma Healy Eames says while the plans for the home may be good in theory - focusing on daycare - there is something that “stinks” about the whole decision. She fears the proposal is a move to close the facility by stealth.
“My concern is for the patients, where are they going to go? The HSE says it will cater for long-stay residents until the numbers are reduced to 10 -15. What then? Something stinks about it all.
“The HSE is in short term trouble [financially], this proposal won’t save money in the short term. I’m wondering is it a ploy to eventually close down the facility?”
In a statement the HSE West said following consultation with staff, unions and medical experts, it is proposing that St Francis Community Nursing Unit be developed into an enhanced day care facility operating from 8am until 8pm daily.
“Some of the day care services that will be provided there will include meals, laundry, showering/personal care and medical care. Allied health professional services will also be developed on the site include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language, and chiropody.
“It is intended also to use some of the space in St Francis CNU to accommodate a primary care team serving the surrounding area. In this way they will also be able to contribute to the day care service being developed there.”
The statement outlined that the future of home as a long-stay unit was reviewed over a number of months.
“Extensive discussions took place with all interested parties arising principally from inspections by the Health Information and Quality Agency and the standards they set down for all nursing homes. These new standards for nursing homes cover inter alia the physical structure of buildings, numbers of toilets/showers, family rooms, meeting rooms, etc.
“A significant difficulty was posed for the HSE, as complying with the recommendations would mean reducing the number of bedrooms at St Francis CNU to meet HIQA’s demand for single en-suite rooms. A family visiting room, large sitting room and space for storage would also have had to be facilitated. Aside from the cost of these changed, it would have resulted in a very significant reduction in bed numbers. This factor was particularly critical in the decision that long-stay residential service would not be viable into the future.
“HIQA did note that the work and care being given to the residents at St Francis CNU was exemplary and the unit was highly commended from both a nursing and care assistant point of view, as well as for food preparation, hygiene and all other care needs.”
Greater demand for daycare services at both the HSE unit in Knocknacarra and St Francis CNU and the increasing requirements for home-care packages, as well as the need to assist more elderly persons to remain in their homes for longer, led to the HSE’s decision to pursue a daycare option at the Newcastle Road facility, it says.
”There are currently 28 residents in St Francis CNU and it is our intention to continue with long-stay until the numbers reduce to 10-15. We will then look at the possibility of transferring clients to other locations. As this will be some time away, there are still ample opportunities for ongoing discussion and consultation on how we manage this.”
