A local MEP is to bring the Loughloe House situation to the petitions committee of the European parliament.
“I can’t understand the rationale behind the decision of the HSE to want to transfer the remaining 11 residents of Loughloe House to some other institution, and their families will not take it lying down,” said Jim Higgins MEP.
“My heart goes out to the other 15 residents who were transferred, and in many cases the other people didn’t have family members to fight their cases, and sadly four people have died.”
The Fine Gael MEP for the North West has said he will give his full support for the Athlone nursing home in the European parliament, and will bring the issue to the petitions committee, which deals with grievances and complaints for people who believe they were not treated well by national institutions, local authority, and state agencies.
“I have given Kay Munnelly, whose mother is a resident of Loughloe House, a commitment to look at the possibility of bringing, first of all, a submission to the petitions committee, and then if it’s within the committee’s terms of reference to have it discussed further.
“At this stage of their so-called golden years, the residents should be enjoying their time in comfort, instead of having a cloud of uncertainty hanging over them before they meet their maker.”
Loughloe House campaigner, Kay Munnelly, welcomed the intervention of Jim Higgins MEP to the long-running saga of the Athlone nursing home.
“As a fellow native of my own county, Mayo, I was proud to meet Jim, and to welcome his help in our campaign. I felt that he understood our situation, and I feel he will do what he can to help us in our battle to keep Loughloe open,” said Ms Munnelly.
“Loughloe House is still open, almost six months after the announcement of closure, and despite all the changes of staff at Loughloe recently, we are happy with the great level of care that our loved ones continue to receive at the nursing home.”
