There was a chink of light in the gloom over Clifden Hospital, according to Galway Fianna Fail deputy Éamon Ó Cuív, when he was told by Minster Mary Butler, Minister for older people in the Dail that a special derogation had been given to the HSE to allow recruitment of extra staff for Clifden Hospital and St Annes CNU in Clifden.
When recruitment has taken place, it will ensure, he says, that both entities remain fully open and operable until the new 40 bed CNU is built in Clifden on the site of St. Annes CNU.
In the meantime the HSE can continue to engage agency staff to ensure full staffing levels are retained.
In the last week Clifden Hospital has been closed despite people in the area waiting to get respite and other short stay care there.
The deputy says the closure is a significant blow to the community and he hopes that the measures now taken will reduce the risk of this happening again.
He says he will continue to work with Minister Butler on this matter and will press that the HSE act swiftly to recruit the extra staff now that a derogation allowing this has been granted.
In a further development, Galway County Council has sought “Further Information” on the planning application by the HSE for the new CNU at St. Anne’s and he says that he will be pressing that this be responded to without delay so that this vital project for West Connemara can proceed.
