Stand off over files removal leads to crisis public meeting

A PUBLIC meeting has been called in Baile Mhúirne next week to discuss the future of the health centre in the Múscraí Gaeltacht village.

The meeting follows a stand off in the local health centre when personnel delegated by the Macroom Primary Care Centre had attempted to move files from the office of the recently retired district nurse from there to bring them into the Macroom facility.

A spokesperson for Cork Kerry Community Care said the centre would not be closed and a nurse would be recruited.

“When files go east they seldom come back west,” said Peadar Ó Riada, who was one of those on the scene last Friday when the people removing the files were confronted. The files ended up not being removed.

He said the meeting was being called to ensure that local people could hear at first hand about the workload which the staff at the centre in Baile Mhúirne are carrying at present.

“Our priority is to find out when a replacement district nurse is going to be appointed,” he said.

Local politicians, representatives of the team at the Ionad

Lae, which is adjacent to the health centre, Coaction, which is a leading carer for disabled people and the GP at the centre, Dr. Colette Faul, have been invited to attend the meeting taking place on Tuesday in the Abbey Hotel at 8.30pm.

“It’s important to note that this is the only health centre in the Múscraí Gaeltacht and if it were to be removed or threatened in any way, it would be a body blow,” said Peadar, questioning whether a service for Irish speakers could be provided out of the Macroom centre. Other issues regarding extending existing facilities are also likely to be raised.