Mayo care provider calls for level playing field in service funding

A successful provider of community led care has called for a ‘level playing field’ in the funding of services.

The call comes as an attempt to stem the closure of smaller, local care homes.

St Brendan’s Community Village Project in Mulranny was established 25 years ago, and is a registered not for profit community run charity.

A spokesperson for the project, said it is under ‘long-term threat’ as it struggles to compete with HSE funded facilities and larger urban commercial nursing homes.

Project Founder and local GP, Dr Jerry Cowley, said that the Government needs to take action, as congregated supported housing care within the community is what people want.

“Unless the Government levels the playing field for smaller not-for-profit housing and care providers, the warehousing of older person’s care into expensive, large, private, urban nursing homes will accelerate” he said.

Mr Cowley asked for the St Brendan’s model to be recognised, invested in, and replicated across the country, saying the service has ‘stood the test of time and works very well’. 

“We provide a service that is broader than a nursing home. It is a continuum of housing care beginning with people living in their own home with supports, through to sheltered housing and when needed moving to high support care – all within our local community” he added.

St Brendan’s is funded through a mix of the Fair Deal scheme, state funding, donations, and fundraising. It comprises 16 low support sheltered houses, a 25 bed high support unit, and is the biggest employer in the area with 51 staff members.

However, Dr Cowley said that the long-term viability of the facility is threatened by the same challenges which have already forced the closure of 34 smaller nursing homes since 2020.

Mr Cowley explained: “Our nearest HSE facility is nine miles away and cannot meet local needs”. 

“People should be given the choice to stay locally rather than having to travel to live for the rest of their lives at a distant greenfield site where they know no-one” he added.

HSE Mayo facilities receive, on average, 60 percent more State funding per resident per week compared to non-HSE facilities such as St. Brendan’s, despite both being ‘subject to the same admission criteria, standards and HIQA regulations’.

Dr Cowley said if community congregated services such as St Brendans are to survive, ‘the Government must recognise’ them in meeting people’s needs and ‘give equity with HSE facilities’. 

“I am aware that a complaint has been accepted by the EU to be heard against the Government about this inequity” he said.

The government established Commission on Care will begin work shortly, and as part of their work, Dr Cowley is urging them to recognise the value of our ‘community based and led continuum model’, and to invest in this approach nationwide.

“There is no reason why there cannot be a St Brendan’s village in every community. We are providing the approach which our older people want” he concluded.

More information can be found on St Brendan’s Village website. https://www.stbrendansvillage.com