How Health Executive responded to Mail’s queries...

19/6/20

REPORTER: I am writing a story for tomorrow’s Irish Daily Mail about a vulnerable person who was Covid-19 positive and absconded from the Keltoi facility during the pandemic when it was repurposed as an isolation facility. The HSE has twice denied this happened in response to queries from me, do you stand over this denial? Were staff at St Mary’s Nursing Home on the same campus notified?

HSE: The use of the term ‘abscond’ is inaccurate and misleading in relation to the supports provided to the public at Keltoi. People self-isolate voluntarily at Keltoi and it is open to them to leave at any time. Where someone chooses not to self-isolate they are followed up individually to ensure their individual health and social supports are met. Keltoi and St Mary’s Hospital are separate facilities. St Mary’s Hospital management are aware of the service in Keltoi and are in regular contact.

9/6/20

REPORTER: I understand that a security company is employed at Keltoi. I have received additional information about a resident absconding from the facility, do you wish to revise your previous response to me in relation to this incident?

HSE: If you would like to give additional information about the case you are mentioning, please share this. We do not have a record of the case you outline. People self-isolate at Keltoi voluntarily and they may choose to leave Keltoi to self-isolate elsewhere. Where this happens, they are followed up and supported as appropriate.

5/6/20

REPORTER: What arrangements are in place to ensure compliance with public health guidelines and isolation protocols? Is the HSE confident that there has been no breach of guidelines or protocols at the Keltoi facility?

HSE: National guidelines on public health are being followed within Keltoi, as outlined in one of my earlier responses, all residents are required to comply with National Public Health Guidelines while resident in Keltoi. The location from which the person is collected and returned will depend on where they are located at the point of time of referral.