Hospital hit by another delay
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THE planned opening of Dingle's new Community Hospital, which was finally to happen on Tuesday of this week after many delays, has been postponed by the HSE because the facility has not yet been officially approved.
Acting Local Health Manager in Kerry, Michael Fitzgerald, issued a statement to local elected representatives on Thursday advising them of the change of plans.
"The reason for the postponement is that it is now clear that the new hospital will not be formally registered with the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) which is an obligation as part of the regulations relating to residential care for older people. The HSE had been working to the Tuesday deadline and all outstanding issues had been cleared in advance of the transfer date. The registration process is lengthy and not achievable in the remaining timeframe. We will announce a transfer date when it will be clear as to when this registration process is complete," his statement said.
The news was greeted with shock and disappointment in the West Kerry community which has endured a succession of disappointments at the failure to open the new facility since construction was completed in 2008.
Fears have been expressed this week that the hospital may never open and Fine Gael Cllr Seamus Cosaí Fitzgerald has called on Health Minister Mary Harney to take matters in hand and speed up the opening.
"I was shocked and dismayed when the HSE announced last Thursday evening that the new Dingle hospital would not open as planned. It seems HIQA is not satisfied with facilities in the new building and I am disheartened by their lack of common sense. This new hospital is superior in every way when compared to the old hospital, St. Elizabeth's . The new hospital is one of the most modern buildings in the country," he told The Kerryman this week.
"I'm told that the delay is due to some problem with shower facilities. The old hospital has just two showers, one upstairs to cater for 20 male patients and one downstairs to cater for 20 female patients .The new hospital has, I am told, at least five or six showers per unit, each unit catering for 23 patients. The most modern and up to date facilities have been installed in this new hospital including a state-of-the-art kitchen," he added.
Earlier this month the HSE announced that the 43 patients would be transferred from St.Elizabeth's to the new hospital on Tuesday, July 27.
"The nurses and staff have been working like Trojans on the planned transfer operation. Office equipment, medical equipment, the patients' medical needs, their clothes and personal belongings have all been moved out of St.Elizabeth's and are now in state of limbo in the new hospital. I am requesting Minister Mary Harney to intervene and let the transfer proceed in the interest of the patients, the staff and common sense," Cllr Fitzgerald stated.
His colleague, Cllr Brendan Griffin, has also contacted Minister Harney's office urging the immediate opening of the new hospital.
