2026-01-22

4. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if she will ensure that Saint Anne's ward in St. Vincent's nursing unit in Mountmellick, County Laois, is kept in use when the new wing is open, to allow for the capacity of the hospital to go from 58 to 83; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4891/26]

I ask the Minister to ensure that St. Anne's Ward in St. Vincent's Hospital in Mountmellick is kept in use when the new wing costing €31 million is opened to increase the capacity of the hospital from 58 to 83 and to make a statement. The Minister must use taxpayers' money well. She should not waste it.

St. Vincent's Community Nursing Unit, CNU, Mountmellick, County Laois, is a public nursing home that currently provides 56 long-stay beds and one short-stay bed. Phase 1 of the current capital project at St. Vincent's is substantially complete and consists of a new two-storey development containing 50 single en suite rooms, adjacent and linked to the existing facility. When complete, St. Vincent's will be registered for 58 beds, which includes the eight-bed dementia unit in the existing building, which will continue to operate. HSE older persons services is currently in the initiation phase of project planning for the utilisation of the old building, taking account of the demand for additional rehab and long and short-stay beds in the CNU. The current residents in St. Anne's ward will transfer to the new building. Future uses of St Anne's ward will form part of the assessment in respect of the future use of St. Vincent's campus. The scale and scope of future additional phasing of capital works at St. Vincent's is currently being reviewed by the HSE, and once completed, the specific scope for phase 2 of the capital project will be determined.

I thank the Minister of State for the reply. We have a huge shortage of nursing home beds in County Laois. There is also a shortage of respite beds and step-down beds when people are discharged from acute units such as in Portlaoise and Tullamore hospitals. The population, in particular of the elderly, is increasing rapidly. If we are going to spend €38 million on a new building with a 50-bed capacity, which I wholeheartedly welcome, we need to get extra capacity for that money. However, the plan is to move out the existing 50 patients to the new wing and to close the two existing wards. I have been in the unit and I accept that one of those wards is not fit to be used again, as it needs to be refurbished. However, St. Anne's ward was extensively refurbished in recent years. It is a fantastic facility and it is in perfect condition. It has en suite rooms. I urge the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, and the Minister of State with responsibility for the elderly, Deputy O'Donnell, not to let it be boarded up and lie idle. This would bring the capacity of the hospital from 58 to 83. The new wing will soon be open. It is important that St. Anne's ward is not boarded up. We must gain from the €31 million that is being spent in Mountmellick.

I thank the Deputy. He is way over time.

I very much appreciate and welcome the Deputy's kind comments on what will be the new state-of-the-art building for residents. To put it in context, phase 1 of the St. Vincent's development is substantially completed, with the new unit currently being equipped. The HSE is committed to further development on the St. Vincent's campus. A scoping exercise is under way in conjunction with a local needs assessment to determine the future requirements for the people of Laois and Offaly. Areas for consideration include step-down beds, short-stay and long-stay beds, rehab beds, dementia-specific beds and respite beds. I will bring back to the HSE the particular points Deputy Stanley makes. Further developments will take place on the campus but phase 1 is virtually complete.

That is fine but St. Anne's ward is HIQA-approved already. The rooms are en suite. The Minister of State needs to have a look at this, as he has responsibility for older people. The Minister also needs to look at it. I say this in a very positive way. They will soon be there cutting the ribbon. That will be a good day for care of the elderly. I have argued long and hard here for the past 15 years, as have other Deputies, for the new wing in Mountmellick, and it is there now. We have a chronic shortage of nursing home beds. Not a week goes by but families are looking to get their loved ones into Mountmellick or Abbeyleix. The population in the county is mushrooming, especially of the elderly. There is a real chance here to get a gain. On the day when the Minister of State or the Minister is down to cut the ribbon, or before it – it will be a great day when it happens – will they visit St. Anne's ward? They have to see it. They were in Limerick opening the new hospital wings there. The wings are needed and that commitment was fulfilled.

I thank the Deputy.

This is needed and there is an opportunity for a gain in capacity. The unit is there and it has been refurbished.

I thank the Deputy.

We need to do it and look after it.

I very much look forward to the opening of the new 58-bed community nursing unit for the people of Laois and Offaly. I met with the HSE yesterday about a number of community nursing home facilities. I raised a particular issue in respect of a second phase at St. Vincent's. I asked directly about the scoping exercise the HSE will do in respect of the existing building. I look forward to seeing Deputy Stanley, all the public representatives, and more particularly the residents in St. Vincent's when we open the new community nursing home facility on the St. Vincent's campus.