ALL PATIENTS in a Donegal nursing unit have been moved to another facility 50km away due to Covid-19 concerns.
All of the elderly residential patients at The Rock Community Nursing Unit in Ballyshannon will be transferred by the HSE to St Joseph’s Community Hospital, Stranorlar.
The Rock Community Nursing Unit has a capacity for 22 people, but all patients under the
“The Rock Community Hospital is an old building and this action is being taken due to Covid -19 in the best interests of patient safety and in accordance with Public Health and Infection Control guidance,” a HSE spokesperson told Donegal Daily.
“All families/guardians have been contacted and explained the rationale behind why their loved ones are been moved.
“We wish to apologies to all patients and their families for any inconvenience caused.
“We will continue to review and assess the situation and ensure that any actions that we take are in the overall interest of maintaining the health and safety of our patients.”
Donegal Daily has submitted a number of queries to the HSE on this matter, including a question on a Covid-19 cluster at the Ballyshannon facility.
A spokesperson said: “The HSE is unable to comment on individual cases or clusters of Covid-19,”
Donegal Daily is awaiting a response on a number of other queries that have been forwarded to the HSE.
Bundoran-based Sinn Féin Councillor Michael McMahon said: “There is no question that, if The Rock is deemed unsafe, there is no other way to do it.
“I feel for the patients in a big way. It is very heartbreaking for staff and the employees as they have a very close relationship.
“The one think I would worry is that this would become permanent. Hopefully when the coronavirus outbreak subsided, they can be brought back to Ballyshannon. The most important and immediate thing here is the care and safety of the patients.”
Tags: