Dublin People - HSE reverses decision on respite beds

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HSE reverses decision on respite beds

Tuesday, 29 April 2008

The Health Services Executive (HSE) bowed to enormous public pressure last week and reversed its decision to discontinue respite services at a hospital on the Southside.
The executive also announced late last week that contrary to a Fine Gael TD’s statement, it would not stop respite services for elderly patients at a second hospital.
Cherry Orchard Hospital provides short-term care to about 40 elderly patients with high dependency problems who were generally being cared for by members of their families.
The hospital opened two new wards in October 2007 and at the time carers were informed there would be an increase in respite care. However, the HSE announced at the beginning of April that up to half of the beds at the hospital would close at the end of May.
But last Thursday (April 24) the HSE announced that they had reversed their decision to discontinue respite services at Cherry Orchard Hospital.
Welcoming the decision, Brid Smith of the People Before Profit Alliance said the u-turn was a major victory for what she described as “people power”.
“All credit for this u-turn by the HSE is due to the carers, their families and the wider community,” she said. “Attention was drawn to these cuts by the national media and sparked huge anger among the local community.”
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, April 23, South Dublin TD Alan Shatter (FG) issued a statement condemning what he claimed was a decision by the HSE to close respite beds at Leopardstown Park Hospital.
Deputy Shatter said: “Unexpectedly, the hospital has this week cancelled all respite care bookings from the beginning of May onwards and has stated that its respite care service is suspended indefinitely.”
He said the apparent cut in respite beds at the hospital was due to Health Service Executive cutbacks.
Leopardstown Park Hospital receives over e12 million per year through the HSE to operate the facility, which cares for some 200 patients in South County Dublin.
However, late last week, the HSE denied the claims by Deputy Shatter and said it was still in negotiations with the hospital on the matter.
In a statement, the HSE said that Leopardstown Park Hospital received an allocation of funding from them in February last.
“The hospital was asked to come back with a plan as to the quantum of services it could deliver within that allocation,” a spokesperson for the HSE said. “The HSE is still waiting receipt of that plan. The HSE has not agreed any reduction of services at the hospital.”

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