TD voices concern on health facility closures
Common accounts of health facility closures prompt further examination - Browne
Tipperary Sinn Féin TD and Chairperson of the Joint Committee of Public Petitions and the Ombudsman Martin Browne has expressed his support for more examination to be given to the closure of various health facilities, as has been highlighted by the Save St Brigid’s Action Group and a number of others who appeared before the committee last Thursday.
Speaking after the meeting, Teachta Browne said: “At last week’s meeting of the Joint Committee of Public Petitions and the Ombudsman, we heard from three campaign groups, who have expressed their concern behind the reasons for the closure of certain health facilities in their communities, and their opposition to the ultimate decisions to take these valuable services away from their current locations.
“We heard from the Save St Brigid’s Action Group from Carrick on Suir; the Loughrea Concerned Citizens Group who are calling for the Seven Springs Day Centre to be reopened; and from the Friends of Owenaccurra Group who are also campaigning for the decision to close the Owenacurra Centre in Midlton, Co Cork to be reversed.
“There are common aspects to the issues raised by all three groups, and that is the rationale behind the decisions to close, and the robustness of the reasons for the closure notices, and the connection between closure orders and temporary pandemic restrictions.
“From what we heard from all of the witnesses, and from the fact that there are overlapping concerns that are common to each case, the committee members present were left with the view that more investigation is needed concerning each of the three petitions.
“As such, it was agreed that the Minister for Health be invited to appear before the committee, alongside representatives of the HSE to answer the questions raised by the groups.
“The work done be each of the three campaign groups has been substantial, and as such, deserve further consideration, including St Brigid’s here in Tipperary clearly demonstrate that more answers are needed for the reasons to close these facilities, especially since we are all aware of the shortage of step-down beds, local palliative care beds, and access to respite.”