A total of 45 beds in three community hospital in Donegal have been closed and are sitting empty due to delays in upgrade works.
The beds, which could be used by step-down patients leaving Letterkenny University Hospital, are located in the HSE-run medical facilities in Falcarragh, Ramelton and Carndonagh.
An investigation by Donegal Daily has found that some of the beds were closed at the beginning of last year and are not due to be reopened until the end of this year.
Many of the beds were closed after HIQA inspections advised that refurbishment works needed to be carried out.
Staffing levels at the hospitals remain as they were before the beds were closed.
A total of 24 of the beds are closed in Falcarragh Community Hospital, a further 15 beds are closed down in Ramelton Community Hospital and the remaining six are unused in Carndonagh Community Hospital.
News of the bed closures comes at a time when pressure on beds at Letterkenny University Hospital is at crisis point.
Chairperson of the Regional Health Forum West, Letterkenny-based county councillor Gerry McMonagle said the time for “smoke and mirrors” with regards to starting dates for bed reopenings has to stop.
He told Donegal Daily “We are dealing with a crisis situation here and there is no question that the lack of stepdown beds is adding to that overall admissions crisis in our hospitals.
“The fact that we have 45 beds closed in three of our community hospitals while they await upgrades for months on end is simply not good enough.
“We are now told that the beds in the Falcarragh Community Hospital is going to tender in Q1 of this year but these beds have been closed since last March. What has happened in that time?
“My colleague Albert Doherty has constantly raised the issue of Carndonagh Community Hospital and those beds are also still closed.
“The time for ‘smoke and mirrors’ is over. The delays in reopening these beds is not acceptable and somebody needs to be held accountable for it. We need answers and we need them now.
“Again if you take the Falcarragh situation, we are told by the HSE that the hospital work will begin in Q1 but that phased reopening of short stay beds will not begin on a phased basis until Q4 of 2023. That’s the end of the year. Realistically we are talking about these beds being closed for almost two years.
“The reality is that HSE management have to be straight with people and stop being vague about planned start and finish dates for refurbishments so that beds can reopen.”
The following is information supplied by the HSE to Donegal Daily on the number of beds currently closed at community hospitals in the county.
Falcarragh Community Hospital
It has 24 short stay beds closed to facilitate planned capital refurbishment due to commence Q1 2023 with phased reopening of short stay beds planned for Q4 2023.
There are a number of alternative services in place to support service users:
The Day centre is currently opened 3 days per week and increasing to 5 days per week beginning 23/01/23. Respite and other short stay care being facilitated by Dungloe Community Hospital and contracted beds in Aras Gaoth Dobhair, private nursing home.
Ramelton Community Hospital
It has 15 short stay beds closed due to fire upgrade works.
There are a number of alternative services in place to support service users:
Day centre services are available in Rathmullan and Fanad. Respite and other short stay care being facilitated by other community Hospitals and private nursing homes.
Carndonagh Community Hospital
It has 6 short stay beds awaiting HIQA registration to reopen following completion of upgrade works.
HIQA registration of closed short stay beds is currently in progress and closed beds will reopen in Q1 2023 subject to registration by HIQA.
There are a number of alternative services in place to support service users:
Respite and short stay care are being provided in Buncrana Community Hospital
An alternative off-site premises for the Day centre has been sourced and is currently being made ready to open in Q1 2023.
