Staff in the dark over St Joseph’s bed closures

UNCERTAINTY surrounds the future of up to 66 beds at St Joseph’s Geriatric Hospital following unconfirmed reports about the possible closure of two units in the hospital.
According to one staff member, who didn’t wish to be named, nurses and attendants were told last week that Unit 3 would be closed over the coming weeks and that Unit 5 would effectively revert to the Clare Mental Health Services to facilitate the transfer of high dependency patients from Cappahard.
Unions representatives from SIPTU and the INO met members of HSE management on Tuesday evening to discuss the issue of beds and staffing at St Joseph’s.
SIPTU spokesman, Tony Kenny, said unions are anxious to retain the number of publicly-funded geriatric beds in St Joseph’s. He said it was agreed that a meaningful process would be entered into by both parties to discuss staffing issues and it is expected another meeting between both parties would be held in two weeks.
In a statement issued to The Clare Champion before the meeting on Tuesday, a HSE spokesman stressed that the authority had not announced the closure of any units in St Joseph’s hospital.
“The HSE is faced with significant challenges in providing safe levels of quality care for patients arising from reducing numbers of nursing staff.
“This is primarily a consequence of the present national moratorium on the recruitment of certain grades of staff. 
“Consequently, we are engaged in a process of consultation with staff and their representatives to address this challenge.  While this may well lead to a reduction in the available beds, it is management’s intention to exhaust all other options before embarking on this course of action,” the HSE spokesman explained.
Deputy Joe Carey claimed reports about possible bed closures had prompted huge anxiety among staff about the welfare of vulnerable elderly patients and whether or not jobs would be cut or vacancies left unfilled. He said the HSE needs to explain why public elderly care beds are not being replaced.
In response to a recent Dáil question tabled by Deputy Carey, local health manager, Dr Fergal Flynn, confirmed the total number of beds had fallen steadily from 247 in 2006 to 223 in 2007, 202 in 2008 and 177 in 2009.
Meanwhile, the total bed capacity at Ennistymon Community Hospital and Raheen Community Hospital remained the same at 31 and 33 respectively.
The HSE is currently engaged in a review of mental health services in Clare but the authority hasn’t made any decision about the possible closure or transfer of psychiatric patients.