BEDS CRISIS LOOMS OVER WEST KERRY HOSPITAL

A SHORTAGE of nurses is jeopardising bed availability at West Kerry Community Hospital according to a statement from Cork-Kerry Community Healthcare, after fears were raised locally that as many as six beds could be lost due to a scarcity of staff.

The statement said that despite ongoing and intensive recruitment efforts, which includes advertising locally as recently as last week, the hospital has been unable to recruit candidates for some nursing vacancies at the hospital.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) requested that the hospital examine the number of beds it can keep open for the summer months. However, the statement insists no decision has been made on how many beds would be closed.

“No decision has been made at this stage, and these discussions relate to the summer months only until the end of August. We are committed to providing a quality service at West Kerry Community Hospital, which we know is valued by the community,” the statement read.

The news is of major concern locally as the hospital caters for up to 40 residents and is the only purpose-built facility offering primary care services, long-term and short-term respite and palliative care for people living in the peninsula.

Staffing problems were raised in February when the INMO and HSE agreed to cancel the proposed opening of eight new beds until five additional nurses were hired.