MOTION TO CONVERT CITY NURSING HOME INTO STEPDOWN FACILITY

Date Published: 09-Mar-2012

The HSE is to consider a proposal to designate beds at St Francis Nursing home so it can operate as a rehabilation, step-down facility.

It follows the passing of a motion by City Councillor Catherine Connolly at a recent meeting of the Regional Health Forum.

The HSE plans to close the Newcastle facility and has already reduced the number of residents.

A petition against the decision has already gathered over 23 thousand signatures.

Councillor Connolly says designating the empty beds as a step-down facility is a sensible solution that will ease the pressure on the city’s public hospitals.

However HSE Regional Director of Operations John Hennessy says this is not a feasible option due to cost issues.