While allaying fears about the future of the Sonas ward in St Patrick’s Community Hospital, the HSE said this week that they are unable to give an exact date for the reopening of the 12-bed ward in Fermoy.
The ward temporarily closed in early July due to staff shortages, and while a ‘successful’ recruitment campaign for nursing staff was held at the end of July, delays relating to Garda clearance has kept the ward closed.
This summer the Minister of State for Health Promotion, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, said in the Dáil that she expected the ward to reopen by the end of August, following queries by Deputy Kevin O’Keeffe. This week, a spokesperson for the HSE confirmed to The Avondhu that the process of hiring new staff is in motion, but has been hit by delays.
“A successful recruitment campaign for nursing staff was held at the end of July. Job offers have been made to the successful candidates and we are waiting for Garda clearance to come through. Unfortunately, the volume of applications to the Garda Vetting Unit from all around the county has meant that Garda clearance is taking longer than anticipated.
Full report in this week’s Print & Digital Edition
