Hope for return of Day Care at MacBride home

Hope for return of Day Care at MacBride Community Nursing Unit


Michael Duffy

Area Manager with the HSE, Mr Frank Murphy, has confirmed to members of Westport Town Council that Day Care services may resume at the MacBride Home in Westport if an application for temporary staff at the facility is successful.
The Cathaoirleach of Westport Town Council, Cllr Michael McLaughlin and his colleagues Cllr Margaret Adams and Cllr Myles Staunton visited the unit last week and Mr Murphy then wrote to the Cathaoirleach where he confirmed that the HSE is committed to the continuation of the MacBride CNU, both as a residential and Day Care Service.

Seeking approval
Mr Murphy added: “Regrettably due to short-term staffing difficulties, we have had to suspend Day Care. The nurse assigned to Day Care is currently on Maternity Leave and is not expected to return until the first week in March 2014. We are seeking approval to employ two nursing staff from the Graduate Nurse Scheme and two Multi-Task Attendants from the Interim Support Scheme under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013 – 2016. If this application is successful, it may afford us the opportunity to resume Day Care Services in McBride CNU.”
Cllr McLaughlin said he welcomed the clarification from Mr Murphy and he hoped the new staff could be assigned sooner rather than later.
Cllr Brendan Mulroy said that it was not good enough for the people of Westport that they could be left without a Day Care for another seven months and he said a letter should be sent to local Minister of State, Michael Ring, to see if he could help with the application for temporary staff.
Cllr Mulroy also added that the quick response of Mr Murphy showed how the Town Council can apply pressure to get important issues addressed.
Cllr Myles Staunton said he was quiet sure that Minister Ring would try in anyway he could to help secure the future of the Day Care service at the MacBride Home.