Locals urged to attend meeting on future of Kanturk Hospital
THE future of Kanturk Community Hospital will again come under the spotlight at a public meeting set to take place in the local Temperance Hall on the evening of Tuesday, October 8.
Members of the public have been issued with an open invitation to attend the meeting, during which plans for the future development of the facility will be outlined.
In March of 2017 The HSE confirmed that almost €10 million had been set aside for programmes of refurbishment and upgrading works at both Kanturk and Millstreet Hospital under the Governments ambitious Capital Investment Plan.
This came in the light of reports issued by the Health and Quality Information Authority (HIQA) that highlighted major flaws in operational procedures and conditions at both HSE administered hospitals.
A more recent HIQA report on Kanturk Hospital released in July of this year, conceded that while action has been taken to address issues raised in previous reports further action was needed in others areas.
These included personal accommodation, storage of personal possessions, accessibility to shower and toilet facilities, end of life care, food and nutrition, infection prevention and control, fire precautions, individual assessment and care planning and residents rights.
The HSE acknowledged that while the report noted improvements at the hospital, “further action was still required.”
“In areas where Kanturk Community Hospital has not yet reached compliance, significant improvements have been made in a short time. These improvements will continue in the weeks and months ahead,” said the HSE.
Last month the HSE lodged a planning application with Cork County Council for a major plans of works at the hospital, including the construction of a 31-bed extension and works to the existing building, which was built in 1927. A decision is due from the authority on the application, which if given the green light will see the number of at the hospital increased to 77, next week.
Local county councillor John Paul O’Shea (FG) urged people to come along to the public meeting saying this was an “exciting time” for the hospital campus and the wider Kanturk community.
“Anyone who is interested in becoming more involved in the development of the hospital and campus over the coming years is very welcome to attend. The aim is to increase the public’s involvement in the development of this very important facility in the local area and to establish a ‘Friends of Kanturk Community Hospital’ Group,” said Cllr O’Shea.
“By joining the group people from Kanturk and the surrounding area will be able to have their say in the future development of the hospital campus,” he added.