Áine Ryan
NEWS that a new Director of Nursing will be appointed at Westport’s MacBride Community Nursing Unit has been given a cautious welcome by campaigners who still have fears for its future.
Speaking to The Mayo News yesterday, Mr Michael Dever said that this announcement by Minister Michael Ring did not mean that the campaign to retain and enhance the services was over.
“While we welcome this decision, this does not guarantee the future of this home if the HSE is not replacing patients and is also diverting people to other homes around the county. And this campaign is not only about patient numbers it is about the quality of respite care and the overall standard of care for the elderly in our community,” Michael Dever said.
Mr Dever told The Mayo News that he understood there were now 28 patients in the nursing home with ten beds remaining empty due to restrictions imposed by a recent Health Information Quality Authority (HIQA) report.
“It is not good enough to confirm that a Director of Nursing will be appointed. I believe it can take up to six months for such an appointment to be made. This facility was built by and for the people of Westport and with the staff embargo services are being downgraded. We will not be fobbed off with promises. Look at what happened to the people of Roscommon,” Michael Dever continued.
Minister for Health, Dr James Reilly recently confirmed to Minister Ring that the position of Director of Nursing would be advertised.
Welcoming the news, Minister Ring said the unit was of tremendous benefit to Westport and its environs. He also welcomed the imminent appointment of a Director of Nursing for the D’Alton Nursing Home in Claremorris. He would be pressing to have both appointments made as sson as possible.