New nursing home planned for Roscrea

A GROUP of family representatives of residents in the Dean Maxwell Community Nursing Unit in Roscrea have welcomed new proposals from the HSE, which would see a new 50-bed community nursing unit built in the town.

The families have been advised that the HSE intends to seek capital approval to identify a greenfield site in Roscrea, following which it will commence the planning process. The announcement comes in the light of long-term plans to cease long-stay residential care currently provided at the Dean Maxwell. In the light of this commitment by the HSE, the families are calling on local TDs and the Government to ensure the requisite capital funding is made available.

A spokesperson commented: “The families recently held a very positive and productive meeting with the Regional Executive Officer of the HSE. During this meeting, the families explained the exceptional caring role provided by Dean Maxwell staff to the members of our community, and the vital service that the nursing home provides to residents.

“This announcement by the HSE means that work will now get underway on identifying a greenfield site for a new 50-bed community nursing unit in the town, following which the planning process will take its course.

“With an approximate doubling of the bed capacity currently available at the Dean Maxwell, which has 20 long-stay beds and two palliative care beds, it means that the new 50-bed unit will also be in a position to cater for the growing older population in the town, which is set to double by 2031.

CONTINUITY OF CARE

“It means local people requiring long-stay care who avail of the new facility will continue to be able to call Roscrea home. It means that family and friends will continue to be able to visit with ease. And it means that residents will have continuity of care with their family GP.

“We thank the HSE for engaging with families, and for listening and responding positively to the concerns raised over the future of the Dean Maxwell as a long-stay nursing home. We look forward to working with the HSE in the months ahead to advance matters and to ensuring that Roscrea gets delivery of this much-needed facility for the community.

“We also wish to take this opportunity to thank local TDs for their support in recent weeks and we look forward to working with TDs as well as local Councillors in ensuring that this commitment from the HSE is supported and progressed and that the capital funding is made available by Government.

Said the spokesman: “This year the Dean Maxwell celebrates 50 years. In celebrating half a century of care, it is reassuring that we can now look forward to the next 50 years with confidence and that the caring values and ethos of the Dean Maxwell can continue to thrive.”

KELLY’S WELCOME

Labour Party TD Alan Kelly said he was delighted “that the HSE has finally seen sense after years of campaigning to put in place a new 50-bed nursing home on a green field site in Roscrea.”

Deputy Kelly added: “I’ve argued for a new nursing home on a green field site for years as I believed that was the best solution for the town and surrounding areas. The news that this approach has been approved by the Regional Manager of the area, Sandra Broderick, is welcome.

“Dean Maxwell has provided excellent care for so many people in the locality for 50 years and this care will continue into the future with over double the capacity.

“My focus now is in securing capital approval for the project. Then a site must be identified and planning permission secured. So, there are a number of steps that have to be taken and gone through yet, but this is a good day for Roscrea.”