RONAN FAGAN
Public representatives have reacted in dismay following the breakdown in negotiations between the HSE and South Westmeath Hospice committee with regard to the future of the palliative care unit at the St Vincent’s Care Centre in Athlone.
As exclusively revealed in last week’s Athlone Advertiser, the South Westmeath Hospice committee is to seek legal advice following the conclusion of recent discussions with the HSE during which draft plans for the the palliative care unit at the new 50 bed community nursing unit planned for Clonbrusk were deemed “unacceptable”.
Noting a sense of utter devastation, South Westmeath Hospice Chairperson, Clare Lennon, stated that the plans presented by the HSE at the recent meeting differed from the agreement reached at a meeting on October 7, 2020.
“Despite commitments to send the agreed proposals to national office for approval, this has not materialised. Throughout the meeting the HSE adopted a rigid approach leaving little scope for movement towards an agreement.
“The plans presented by the HSE are unacceptable and we are now taking legal advice. We will also reignite our ‘Save Your Hospice’ campaign,” Ms Lennon asserted.
Noting the latest negotiations development, Athlone Town Mayor, Cllr Aengus O’Rourke, stated that any attempt by the HSE to downgrade the relocated palliative care facility within the community nursing unit in Clonbrusk would be resisted.
“Over the course of the past 12 months there had been broad agreement in principle of a way forward between the South Westmeath Hospice committee and the HSE in relation to how the hospice would be accommodated at the new location.
“However, what the HSE now see as an acceptable replacement facility in Clonbrusk is a long way from what the South Westmeath Hospice committee deem as agreeable or workable.
“The long-standing written commitment from the HSE, dating back to 2008, stated that should there be any move in the future forced upon the South Westmeath Hospice, the public health service would guarantee a like for like standard of facility. However, they are seeking to renege on this commitment now and give the very bare minimum.
“In my view, the attitude of the HSE in their dealings with the South Westmeath Hospice committee, both previously and in recent weeks, has been nothing short of deplorable.
“Bear in mind, 18 months ago they wanted to close our state-of-the-art hospice - a facility which was of no cost to the HSE as the local community paid for the realisation of the palliative care unit.
“This is a state-of-the-art facility which conducts a very sensitive job. The hospice is a special place, it assists families at their time of greatest need by caring for their loved ones as they prepare to die and here we have the HSE doing their utmost to downgrade and diminish it.
“The people of Athlone and Midlands region will not stand by and allow the HSE to get away with this. We rallied around previously to save the hospice and we will do so again if necessary.
“I have been inundated with calls and messages over the past week from people willing to do whatever it takes to prevent any dilution or downgrading of our hospice.
“Both Deputy Robert Troy and Deputy Peter Burke are working behind the scenes at Government level to find a solution to this latest impasse.
“I support them in their efforts and I am confident that we will receive the commitment we need in order to keep the sterling work of the South Westmeath Hospice going into the future,” Cllr O’Rourke concluded.
Sinn Féin constituency Deputy, Sorca Clarke, expressed disappointment with regard to a cessation in the talks between both parties.
“I was shocked to hear of the breakdown in talks and what this could mean for the palliative care services in South Westmeath. We are already in a situation where the services we have are overstretched due to the pandemic. There should be absolutely no debate on this issue.
“The people of Athlone and the surrounding areas raised large amounts of money to keep their hospice open on the back of promises from the HSE. It is simply unacceptable now that they are left in this situation,” Deputy Clarke asserted.
