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Some of those who attended last year’s 30th anniversary celebrations of St Patrick’s Community Hospital’s Fundraising Association. The hospital faces continued challenges in 2014 to comply with a HIQA directive. Photo: John Ahern

Matron Annette Clancy said this week she is not aware of any threat to the future of St. Patrick's Community Hospital in Fermoy. The matron made her remarks on Thursday last at a meeting of the Retention of St. Francis Welfare Home Group, called by Councillor Michael Hanley, which went into a wider discussion on the community hospital. It was prompted by Mayor Olive Corcoran, speaking of her concern that "Everything seems to be on the way over to Mallow."

"Every time I see something come for the good of the town something else goes," she said.

The matron said there were certainly challenges facing the community hospital in having to bring it into compliance with a regulatory requirement for 80% of its accommodation to be single-bed occupancy by next year.

FINALISING PLANS

HIQA highlighted the requirement under Regulation 19 in the Health Act 2007, in its most recent report, following an inspection in July last year. It stated that the size and layout of multi-occupancy rooms was to be reviewed to ensure they meet the individual and collective needs of residents, including privacy and dignity. The hospital was required to make a copy of its findings available to the chief inspector of HIQA.

The matron told last Thursday's meeting that the HSE had given an undertaking that it would be done. It's reported in the HIQA report that the HSE said in the south, as well as nationally, it was completing detailed plans in relation to existing buildings to achieve compliance with the standards required and that the plans will consider the options for refurbishment, extension or full replacement of facilities.

The work is nearing completion for all facilties and a detailed plan is being drawn up for Fermoy Community Hospital, HiQA was advised. That will then be assessed against the number of public beds that are required to be retained in an area based on trends in demand for service and will form part of an overall plan for HSE South.

The plan and the funding requirement for the HSE will then be put forward for discussion with the Department of Health and the Minister.

STRONG SUPPORT

The matron pointed out that the hospital serves a considerably diverse group of residents and assured that her staff has the level of expertise to provide nursing care.

The meeting heard that there is a lot of goodwill towards the hospital and that it had considerable support from the community, not least when it comes to fundraising. The matron acknowledged such support and fundraising efforts, noting that Tadhg O'Donovan of the hospital's fundraising committee, was present. "What happened with St. Francis Home won't happen with St. Patrick's Hospital," he vowed in reply.

Cllr. Noel McCarthy said the community hospital and St. Francis Welfare Home will be top of his agenda as a public representative and election candidate.

Cllr. Corcoran said she was delighted to hear all is well regarding Fermoy hospital "As it is one of the best things the town has."

Cllr. Frank O'Flynn said he was satisfied the community hospital "Will have its house in order" regarding the new HIQA standards.

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