Councillors demand meeting with HSE over loss of respite care in Offaly
The Councillors of Birr Municipal District are demanding a meeting with HSE management, as a matter of great urgency, over the loss of Respite beds in Birr Community Nursing Unit.
“People are very upset because of the loss of the Respite beds in the Unit,” Cllr John Carroll told the February monthly meeting on Monday evening. He said what Birr MD wants now is for Reps from the HSE to meet them and outline what exactly the situation is.
It's possible that the loss of Respite beds is only temporary, but this is not certain, and the councillors want the beds restored immediately.
Cllr John Clendennen, Cathaoirleach, said the MD also wants an update from HSE Reps about the commencement date for the construction of the town's Primary Care Centre. “We were told the construction would start before Christmas,” he remarked. “Here we are in mid February and still the sod hasn't been turned.”
Cllr Clare Claffey said the HSE had been “a bit sly” regarding the Nursing Unit beds. “There were six Respite beds in the Unit until a few weeks ago,” she remarked. “Now there's just two Rehab beds. This is very serious. We need to meet them. It's a matter of great urgency.”
Cllr Peter Ormond pointed out that a meeting is needed within a week. “Councillors find it very hard to get any information from the HSE. That's been the case for years now. This is unacceptable. We demand a meeting.”
Cllr John Leahy supported the other councillors' comments. “We should have a zoom call at the very least,” he commented. “It's obvious to me that the HSE don't have the level of respect which they should have for elected representatives. Their level of communication with us is very poor. They are a bit like Bord na Móna in that they are poor communicators and we're often complaining about them. We are always playing catch-up and are chasing our tails with them. Respite beds are a public service and we are public representatives. They should respect that.”
“Dealing with the HSE,” commented Cllr Claffey, “often feels like banging your head off a wall, or you're being fobbed off. Caring for a loved, elderly one is very hard work and Respite beds are essential. Now the HSE is sending them to places which are not familiar to them. It feels heartless.”
She added that the service in Banagher Primary Care Centre isn't good enough either. “We have GPs in Banagher PCC but it's obvious there aren't enough. It's getting increasingly difficult to get an appointment and people can be waiting up to two weeks. I and many others have been told by receptionists during GP opening hours to go to Midoc when there are no appointments available for a few days. We never had this issue when the GPs weren't in a Primary Care Centre. The HSE led us to believe that GP waiting times would decrease once Banagher PCC opened. This simply hasn't happened. The opposite has happened. The HSE is really not meeting acceptable standards in so many areas.”