WICKLOW HOSPITAL TO REMAIN OPEN
WICKLOW District Hospital will remain open in the future after being refurbished to fit out 20 social care beds for Covid related activity.
The HSE has confirmed that the hospital will be compatible for respite and long-term support in a post Covid situation. The day care centre for the elderly service already on site, but which had to close due to Covid-19, will also be reintroduced.
The HSE closed the hospital in November 2010, despite the Save Wicklow Hospital Campaign, which saw over 3,500 protesters take to the streets in opposition to any closure. Issues raised in a Health Information and Equality Authority (HIQA) report were given as the reason for the closure.
Deputy John Brady has warmly welcomed the news that the 20 beds recently installed at Wicklow District Hospital will remain open post-Covid.
He said: ‘I’m delighted that there is now a commitment that the 20 recently refurbished beds in the closed Wicklow District Hospital will remain open into the future. The HSE have confirmed that the now closed Hospital will be used for frail older people from mid and South Wicklow leaving Acute Care settings. I had been informed initially by the HSE that the reopening of the 20 beds was for Covid related activity and there were concerns that the beds would close again in a post Covid situation.
‘This confirmation about the longterm use of the hospital shows that the political decision to close Wicklow District Hospital ten years ago was wrong and short-sighted. An independent survey was carried out following the HIQA report which showed the work could have been carried out ten years ago, without being too expensive. It does make you wonder how much money was spent on private nursing homes when you had a perfectly good facility available in a community setting?’
Sections of the hospital had already been reopened as a Covid test centre prior to the start of the refurbishment works required for the provision of the 20 beds.
Deputy Brady added: ‘It’s good that the HSE are also looking at using the hospital for respite and long-term care support in the form of a day care centre for the elderly of Wicklow. This is a support that was previously on site but had also closed. The confirmation that the reopening of Wicklow District Hospital is not a short-term initiative is really important for the people of Wicklow. It will also play a critical role in freeing up acute care beds in other Hospitals.
‘I will continue to work with the HSE on the reopening of the 20 beds in Wicklow District Hospital also the day care services. It’s important that adequate funding is in place to ensure the day care service can resume as quickly as possible and I call on the Minister for Health to make sure the necessary funds are in place.’
Earlier in the week, Jim Curran of the HSE, in response to a parliamentary question submitted by Deputy Brady, confirmed plans to retain the 20 beds.
Mr Curran’s reply stated: ‘The former District Hospital Wicklow is being refurbished in contemplation of egress challenges from Acute Care settings for frail older persons domiciled in the general area of mid and south Wicklow. The HSE would anticipate that this use is also compatible with that of respite and long-term care support into the future together with support already on site (but presently stood down) in the form of a day care centre for the elderly of the general Wicklow area.’