LATEST: HSE takes over local nursing home

The final steps in transferring Mount Carmel Nursing Home in Roscrea to the ownership of the Health Service Executive (HSE) took place on Monday, ending a legacy of almost 50 years of care by the Sisters of St Marie Madeleine Postel.

A moving event to mark the beginning of a new chapter for Mount Carmel was held in Roscrea on Monday and attended by Independent Tipperary TD, Deputy Michael Lowry, who was applauded for playing an instrumental role in securing the future of the Nursing Home.

Deputy Lowry said the change ensures that elderly people in the town and its environs will have long term care available locally. Key to the long term continuation of elderly care in Roscrea is the purchase by the HSE of the Mt Carmel complex, which includes the current nursing home and adjacent buildings. The convent will be vacated to provide for the provision of additional accommodation.

The facility will become a community care centre under the direction of the HSE and staff currently working at Mt Carmel will come under the auspices of the HSE.

Seamus Browne, Chairperson of the Board of Management spoke on the final day of ownership on behalf of the Board and the congregation and said the Sisters recalled the official opening of Mount Carmel Nursing home in May 1980, when the home was dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

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During those 46 years the Sisters felt the presence of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and their foundress St Marie Madeleine Postel watching over them and guiding them, he said.

The sisters wished to place on record their gratitude to the members of their own congregation, many now deceased, who worked so hard in the home to embed the congregations ethos of combining quality clinical care, spiritual support, and a home from home for the many residents they had the privilege of looking after since 1980.

Mr Browne paid tribute to Sisterr Luke for her foresight and leadership in recognising that the home needed further development and he acknowledged the financial investment made by the congregation in the past 16 years, when the original nursing home structure was demolished and replaced by the modern state of the art nursing home that is now being passed to the HSE.

He said the sisters and the Board of Management who was established in 2006 were so grateful to the staff past and present who worked so hard to care for the residents of the home in the spirit and ethos of the congregation.

Sister Luke in particular wished to thank past and present Board members for their advice and expertise over many years and Mr Browne mentioned the excellent Directors of Nursing who worked in Mount Carmel down through the years - who include Mary Young, Dolores Sheridan, Joan Rafter, Anne Keevey, Majella Larkin and the current Director of Nursing Helen Costello.

The management and staff have given unwavering support to the congregation in their mission to provide excellent clinical support to the residents while also maintaining that home from home atmosphere.

Mr Browne made special mention of Marian Hayes who was the first Chairperson of the Board of Management and who acted as the congregation’s representative in the home since 2017.

He thanked Marian for leading the negotiations with the HSE on behalf of the congregation and the Board and wished her well in her retirement.

From his own involvement in many of the negotiations he acknowledged how complex the
process was and said the transfer of ownership to the HSE was a very positive outcome for residents and staff as well as the congregation.

He said special tribute must go to Deputy Lowry and that Sister Luke and Marian recalled how Deputy Lowry came to Mount Carmel Nursing home to meet them and the staff in 2022. Following that meeting he spoke in the Dail about the low pay of Health Care Assistants and the financial pressures on private nursing homes.

He also told Sister Luke and Marian that he would find a solution to improve the working conditions of the staff in Mount Carmel and to solve the congregation’s succession problem.

"He was true to his word and within a short space of time he brought the HSE proposal to the congregation and has been unwavering in his support to them and to the Board right up to the conclusion of the transfer," he said.

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On behalf of the congregation and the Board of Management Mr Browne wished the HSE well as they take ownership of Mount Carmel Nursing Home. The congregation and Board are satisfied that the ethos of the HSE aligns with that of the congregation, he said.

The sisters are particularly pleased that the HSE wish them to continue to provide a spiritual presence in the home and they look forward to continuing in this capacity for many years to come, Mr Browne said.