Scalpel now directed at Lisdaran?
by Tom Carron Updated: Monday, 5th December, 2011 12:00pm
HSE denies any plans to close unit
With the recent government announcement that Cavan army barracks is being closed nothing is now taken for granted and political pressure this week is being concentrated on staving off any threat to the Lisdaran Unit for the Elderly.
Yesterday afternoon, the HSE issued a statement saying that no decision has been made to close the unit. "We wish to clearly state that no patients have been removed from Lisdaran Unit for the Elderly as a step towards closure of this unit," read the statement.
This is in direct contradiction to claims by people familiar with the unit that it is being "closed by stealth" with patients already transferred to public nursing homes in Ballyconnell and Virginia and that more than 50% of beds have been removed.
There are 38 beds and six respite beds in the unit.
Responding to The Anglo-Celt on the concerns being raised, the HSE say that in Cavan and Monaghan they are currently engaged in an overall assessment of services for older persons in long-stay residential care. Part of this process includes consideration of the number of beds and type of long-term care provision required. "We are committed to establishing the environmental improvements required to ensure we meet the HIQA standards across all units in the Cavan and Monaghan Area including Lisdaran Unit for the Elderly."
The HSE accepts that in the light of national financial constraints and HIQA regulations, some closures and or bed reductions will occur in Cavan and Monaghan but this, they say, will be kept to a minimum. "When a decision is made in relation to future residential service provision throughout the Cavan and Monaghan area, an intensive communication process with affected service users, the public, staff and unions will be put in place prior to moving ahead with any identified changes," state the HSE.
However, Tony Fitzpatrick, industrial relations officer of INMO, the nurses' union, has expressed his deep disappointment at the HSE's failure to communicate with staff as to their plans for the unit. He says that he has written to the HSE seeking clarification and is still awaiting a reply.
He claims that the HSE is primarily concerned with saving money but their "short-term solution" will only leave long-term damage.
Many of the residents of the Lisdaran Unit have been there for a long number of years, some in fact were previously residents of the former St Felim's Hospital. Their relatives are apprehensive at this time and hope that the unit can be saved so that their loved ones can remain in the place that has become home for them.
Margaret Basmajian of the Good Morning Positive Age programme told The Anglo-Celt this week that she has been visiting the unit for the past 16 years. She was outraged that residents and their families had to learn of the possible closure on local radio.
"Many of the patients are in the unit for over almost 20 years and Lisdaran is like their home, where they receive loving care and wonderful attention. I believe if these vulnerable patients are moved it will have a devastating consequences on them," said Margaret.
She's appealing for people to lobby the Minister for Health, James Reilly, on the issue.
Local Fianna Fail TD for Cavan/Monaghan, Brendan Smith, has tabled a parliamentary question to the Minister for Health seeking a categoric assurance that there will be no downgrading of the status of Lisdaran nursing unit for the elderly. Meanwhile Sinn Féin health spokesperson, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, said that the cuts threatened by the Minister and the HSE were causing fear and anxiety to people all over the country. "They would target the old, the sick, the vulnerable and families on low incomes," said the Sinn Féin TD.
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