Idle beds at Dingle Kenmare hospitals

THE HSE have told Independent Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae that every effort is being made to open the remaining eight beds in Dingle Community Hospital and the 22 beds in Kenmare Community Nursing unit.

The unoccupied rooms in both hospitals are fully furnished and ready to be occupied.

The additional beds for the two hospitals were originally announced by the HSE in December 2015 but, to date, the HSE have not been in a position to open them.

HIQA have inspected both premises and 54 beds in Dingle and the 41 beds in Kenmare have been registered for use.

In relation to staff engagement in Dingle, the HSE said agreement on staffing levels has been reached but recruitment of nurses is proving to be extremely difficult and maintaining current staffing levels is even proving to be a problem.

With regard to staff engagement in Kenmare, four meetings between staff, the IMNO and management have taken place.

Management in Kenmare last met with the Nurses and their IMNO representatives on December 5, 2017,when another staffing proposal was presented to the INMO and nursing staff.

The HSE said it is currently awaiting a response to the latest proposal. They contacted the IMNO on Monday January 15 to request a response.

Deputy Healy-Rae told Health Minister Simon Harris that it is ‘outrageous’ that such issues have prevented the opening of beds that are ready for patients.