‘Hotel-style’ nursing home plans unveiled

PLANS to build a €10 million state-of-the-art “hotel-style” nursing home in Westbury have been lodged with Clare County Council.

The Athlunkard Partnership, comprising a group of businessmen in the region, is seeking planning permission to construct a two-storey nursing home consisting of 110 single en-suite bedrooms, day living space, kitchen, bathrooms and associated works near St Nicholas Church, Westbury.
Partnership member and spokesman, Flor McCarthy pledged the group will build the nursing home to hotel standard, which he believed is attainable without incurring a significant increase in construction costs.
Directly involved with nursing home developments for over 18 years, Mr McCarthy is confident that most of the basic standards set by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) will be exceeded in the new building, if planning permission is granted.
“I would see the standards we are prepared to apply to this nursing home would exceed all HIQA requirements. That is the benchmark I have set myself. Standards do add a burden but these standards have to be met. I want to provide care for the residents to an exceptional standard.
“All prospective residents will be screened so we can satisfy ourselves we will be able to cater for their individual needs,” he said.
The nursing home will employ 50 staff between full-time and part-time employees on a 24-hour basis. The design is based on similar projects developed by Mr McCarthy and others in Kildare and Waterford and will include facilities like enclosed courtyards to offer residents the opportunity to enjoy outdoor surroundings in a safe, secure environment.
In addition to the availability of a bored well on site, the partnership has obtained a formal agreement with McInerney Homes to connect to its existing foul, storm and water main services to cater for the development.