Disappointment at lack of water deliveries to unit

BALLYMOTE Community Nursing unit manager Linda Hannon is by now enured to the inconvenience of the boil water notice.

Staff members could be looking after up to 44 vulnerable elderly patients at any one time.

After four and a half months of patiently boiling water in the kitchen or reminding those with dementia not to use the tap water to brush their teeth, they’re now facing a further six weeks of more of the same.

“It’s unfortunate we’ve had no extra help from anyone. No deliveries of water whatsoever,” said Linda.

“The most disappointing thing is for a nursing home with vulnerable adults we might have gotten a little bit of help in the delivery of water but nothing like that has come,” she said.

Linda is only aware of the boil water extension because of her own vigilance. She’s constantly checking social media for updates.

“Officially I’ve heard nothing from Irish Water. Any updates we get is through the public notices you see online from Irish Water and that’s from me looking it up myself.

“It’s a long road. It’s a lot of extra work in a place with so many vulnerable adults but we just have to do what we have to do to make our residents safe,” she told The Sligo Champion when we visited last week.

Like other businesses or organisations, they’re buying and bringing in water.

“We just have to keep going it’s just the way it is.

“It’s been a long few months but we’re not the only ones in this boat. Our priority is keeping our patients safe and thanks be to God they’ve had no symptoms or illness. They’ve been keeping well and that’s the main thing,” she said.

“When we first got the news we reacted very quickly. We order up the water twice a week and boil it every night as well - it’s become part of our day now,” she said.

“It’s not just drinking, it’s oral care, hygiene and taking medication. It’s an added workload on the staff,” she said.

“It’s a lot of added expense we wouldn’t have in our budget for this year and now we’re looking at it for six months at least.

“That’s half a year’s budget that I wouldn’t have budgeted for but we’ve no choice. The health and safety of our residents is our priority.

Linda has not heard of any cases of cryptosporidiosis in the community.

“If it’s going to break out I would have heard. You hope that maybe that’s a good sign,” she said.

Linda paid tribute to Fianna Fáil County Councillor Paul Taylor who she has been liaising with over the issue.

“I’ve found him very helpful. He’s letting me know what’s going on so I can update my notices here,” she said.

The Ballymote Community Nursing Unit is also being extended to a 32-bed facility.