Leitrim councillors vow to continue fight to restore elderly day services in Mohill

Members of Carrick-on-Shannon MD have unanimously backed a motion calling for immediate works to be carried out at the Arus Carolan Nursing Unit in Mohill to allow the return of elderly day services.

Members have also vowed to continue the fight until these services are restored.

The comments came after a letter was received in response to a request for the HSE to attend the February meeting of Carrick-on-Shannon Municipal District to discuss concerns following the closure of day services in Mohill.

Responding on behalf of the HSE, Dermot Monaghan Chief Officer Community Healthcare Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan and Sligo “we are not in a position to commit to attending a meeting of the Council at present.”

He said: “I can confirm that the Mohill Day Centre was previously based within a HIQA Designated Centre/HIQA Regulated Nursing Unit which included shared shower and toilet facilities and this situation was deemed non-compliant with HIQA Standards.

“As the day centre at Mohill Community Hospital (Arus Carolan) was considered no longer suitable for the provision of day services, HSE Property Management, in liaison with Older Persons Services, carried out a search of the South Leitrim area to locate an existing building that was fit for purpose,” he said.

Ballinamore Social Day Centre was identified as a suitable alternative centre for the delivery of day services to the local community. This purpose-built facility is run on behalf of the HSE by Leitrim Development Company.”

However Cathaoirleach, Cllr Sean McGowan said that he was “extremely disappointed” with the response from the HSE adding it is “just a rehash of previous correspondence”.

“The whole lot of us have called for this centre to re-open. Improvement works are all that are needed (to allow it to re-open),” he added.

Cllr McGowan said sending people to Ballinamore is not acceptable and stressed that members will “continue to fight for the re-opening of this service”.

Cllr Thomas Mulligan agreed noting that the amount of work necessary to re-open the centre in Mohill is “absolutely minimal”.

“This is not something we are prepared to let go, this work could have been done at relatively small expense,” he said.

“As far as I can see (from the reply) the HSE are trying to put us off,” added Cllr Des Guckian.

He called on the HSE to build the necessary extension to provide the required facilities in Mohill and brought forward a motion calling for this work to be completed which was seconded by Cllr Sean McGowan.

Cllr Paddy Farrell noted that Cllr Finola Armstrong McGuire has raised this issue at the Regional Health Forum “several times” and agreed that the situation is disappointing.

“(This letter) is the same answer we are getting at every forum meeting,” agreed Cllr Finola Armstrong-McGuire.

“I am pushing (for the restoration of the service) at all times.”