New city community nursing home to open

Public, community nursing home beds are returning to the city after a hiatus since St Francis nursing home was closed in May, 2012.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) West has confirmed that units 5 and 6 in Merlin Park Hospital will operate permanently as a community nursing home.

Independent City Councillor, Catherine Connolly, a proponent of public nursing homes, has welcomed confirmation from the HSE that all 52 beds at the two units are to be dedicated to community nursing home.

The HSE has also confirmed to Cllr Connolly that a recruitment drive for more nurses is underway in order to staff the 52-beds as a nursing home.

Currently there are empty beds at the facility. Of the 52, only 40 beds are occupied, including 26 long stay, 12 respite beds and two short stay used for people who are not sick enough for hospital but not well enough to go home.

“That 12 beds are unoccupied while people are waiting for beds is unacceptable. They are waiting at home, with family or in some cases at University Hospital Galway, which just beggars belief when beds are empty,” said Cllr Connolly.

She has welcomed news that the HSE is committed to staffing said units 5 and 6 fully by the end of this year. A full complement of staff will mean that all 52-beds would be available.

Once that happens there will be 34 long-term nursing home beds, six short-stay, and a dozen respite beds.

Cllr Connolly, who has raised the issue of public nursing homes every two months since 2006 in questions at the Regional Health Forum, says it is very good news that the HSE is now committed to community nursing home beds.

She said she will be following up on this issue to ensure that the HSE keeps its word and re-opens the 52-beds and fully staffs the units.

“The people of Galway have the highest regard for units 5 and 6 and St Francis’ nursing home. Among the people of Galway they are loved, they really are. St Francis’ is closed, despite a long campaign to keep it open, but I am delighted that units 5 and 6 will now be fully occupied by the end of this year,” she added.

Recruitment of nurses for the two Merlin Park units, as well as the public nursing home in An Cheathrú Rua is underway. The units will be assessed by HIQA (Health Information and Quality Authority) to ensure they comply with nursing home standards.