HSE DEFERS MEETING WITH ST FRANCIS HOME RESIDENTS

Date Published: 27-Sep-2011

A meeting with patients and family of a city nursing home has been deferred by the HSE.

It follows threats of a protest by protestors at last evening’s public meeting to discuss the campaign to keep St Francis Nursing Home open.

The HSE plans to close the facility in Newcastle and have already reduced the number of residents from 40 to 19.

At this afternoon’s meeting of the HSE West Regional Forum, Tony Canavan of the HSE Public Health and Community Care team said residents will be met or contacted at another time to avoid the planned protest.

The forum also passed a motion by Cllr Catherine Connolly to call on the HSE West and the Minister for Health Dr James Reilly not to close the Newcastle facility.

Chairman Cllr Padraig Conneely criticised some of the protestors at last evening’s meeting.