Carrick-on-Shannon Day care services for older people to re-open in alternative venue

Day care services for older people, formerly offered at St Patrick’s Hospital in Carrick-on-Shannon, will recommence in early 2023 in an alternative venue.

There have been numerous calls for the resumption of this service locally. Independent Sligo Leitrim TD Marian Harkin who campaigned for the resumption of the service, welcomed the announcement by Minister Mary Butler, Junior Minister with responsibility for Mental Health and Older People.

“In the last number of weeks, I addressed the question of day care centres with both the Taoiseach and Minister Butler in the Dáil and I also posed a number of questions to the HSE about the re-opening of St Patrick’s. I informed them that St Patrick’s was one of the centres throughout the northwest that has not reopened since Covid, and I emphasised that the situation whereby older peoples’ day care services were still closed was completely unacceptable and entirely unjust and that immediate action needed to be taken to ensure the re-opening of these vital services.” Deputy Harkin said.

“I am glad that to see in the statement from Community Healthcare, that St Patrick’s is under refurbishment. I also note that the HSE will engage with local transport providers to arrange transport, but I absolutely expect that the new service will be easily accessible for the many older people in Carrick-on-Shannon. I intend to follow progress on this very closely, because the last time I asked the HSE about provision of services for people who used to attend at St Patricks, the response I got recommended five other centres as suitable. These included Drumsna, which is 7km away, Ballinamore is 28km, Drumkeeran 29km, Carrigallen 36km and Ballinaglera 53 km away. Whoever sent me that response knows nothing about Co Leitrim and older people accessing day care centres.” Deputy Harkin said.

“As I said in the Dail, day care centres are a lifeline to so many older people, they provide a social setting and an opportunity to meet others of similar age to chat in a warm, safe, space. Many of these centres provide a meal, entertainment and a few basic exercises for body and mind. Crucially, they offer services like chiropody or shower facilities as well as providing people with information about their own healthcare and other services that can help them.

While I acknowledge the Minister’s plan for re-establishing day care services is a move in the right direction,” Ms Harkin said, “it is completely unacceptable that some older people are still waiting for the reopening of these day centres and are still without the crucial services they provide. I will also be keeping a close eye on refurbishment works in St Patricks Hospital to ensure that day care services can recommence from there as soon as possible.”