Lack of staff at hospital highlighted

PROBLEMS at St. Patrick’s Community Hospital, Fermoy were highlighted in the Dáil by Fianna Fáil Deputy Kevin O’Keeffe.

He said there seems to be a big problem with maintaining staff levels in the hospital. “I do not think the HSE is taking a hands-on approach to this job,” he said. “I spoke recently to a potential applicant for a job in the hospital who was told six months ago their name would be kept on file. When they approached the hospital recently to see whether they could get a position, they were told to reapply.”

Deputy O’Keeffe said he particularly wanted to highlight the non-attendance by a doctor or medical officer at the St. Patrick’s Community Hospital site. This had caused fierce problems for the community, he said. “Families who have loved ones at home sometimes put them into respite care at St. Patrick’s Community Hospital for certain periods,” he said. “It is an invaluable service for them. The HSE has informed us that a solution has been put in place.

“I will give an example of a person living near Mitchelstown who needs 24-hour care. He was offered a bed in Mallow but this was not sufficient because even with the care and attendance of those who provide cover at St. Patrick’s Community Hospital, he still needs family members to travel and stay with him when he is in hospital.

“It is a total disgrace that this person and his family members have not received any respite in the past four or five months.”

In reply, Minister of State Catherine Byrne said the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of health and personal social services, including those at facilities such as St. Patrick’s Community Hospital in Fermoy. “Following the resignation of a medical officer in 2017, the HSE managed, with great difficulty, to engage another GP to provide the service,” she said. “However, in September 2017 a second medical officer retired. Despite strenuous efforts to engage another GP in the area the HSE was unable to source GP cover for the fifth day. The HSE decided that it was necessary to protect the 54 longstay beds and that the respite service affecting nine beds in Fermoy had to be curtailed. This service was to be provided by local nursing homes.”

She said that following a recent meeting with a local general practitioner, agreement has been reached to provide the necessary medical cover on a temporary basis. This will enable respite beds to reopen in the community hospital in Fermoy.