Clifden District Hospital, which closed temporarily at the end of February re-opened for admissions on Monday.
Local Fine Gael councillor Eileen Mannion who has tirelessly campaigned for the re-opening of the local hospital has welcomed the news that Clifden District Hospital is open again for admissions with five out of the seven beds available now occupied.’
“This is very welcome news for the people of North Connemara who depend on the hospital for respite and step-down services. Over the last few weeks people who required these services had to go to Galway or Moycullen which meant they were away from their families and communities.’’ said Cllr. Mannion.
“I welcome the lifting of the embargo on recruitment in the HSE to allow three nurses to be recruited for Clifden to allow the facility to open.
“A recruitment campaign has been launched for the post of MTA (Multi Task Assistant ).The HSE have also given a commitment to keep the facility open until the proposed new 40 bed unit is built’’, she added.
Cllr Mannion added that while she is delighted the facility is to open, there is further work to be done to ensure the HSE recruit a physiotherapist and to have the x-ray facility back in action.
Meanwhile the planning application for a proposed new 40-bed Community Nursing Unit which will see the amalgamation of Clifden District Hospital and St. Anne’s CNU is progressing. Galway County Council Planners have issued a Further Information request which the HSE have six months to respond to.
