Rosalie unit closure
Deputy Eugene Murphy sought an update on the Rosalie unit in Castlerea after reports the HSE was moving to close it. Minister Daly said there was no final guarantee, cited an independent clinical review that stalled, and confirmed a new person had not yet been appointed.
The health section of the programme for Government used caring language about looking after the less privileged in our society, particularly people with disabilities and older people. The Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, probably knows the matter I am going to raise again, namely, the Rosalie unit in Castlerea, County Roscommon. When the Taoiseach was the Minister for Health, his Department issued a letter stating that the unit would not be closed. I am seeking an update. According to an article in today's Roscommon Herald, a local newspaper, the HSE is ploughing ahead with closing the unit. As the Minister of State and the Taoiseach know, this is a concern for the people of Castlerea. The battle of Castlerea will continue. This is no way to treat people who have been in those surroundings for many years, are quite content and are well looked after. The Minister of State visited the unit. It is a fantastic unit and is well catered for and staffed. Will the Taoiseach provide an update on the unit? Will he also guarantee that its patients and their families will not be further upset by such newspaper articles?
Comment on this
I cannot give any guarantee about what the Roscommon Herald will or will not print on any given day.
Comment on this
However, I can give the Deputy an assurance. As he is aware, there are 23,600 fair deal patients under my brief, of whom the 12 patients in the Rosalie unit have probably occupied approximately 20% of my time in this role. I have engaged with representatives and visited the unit numerous times. Indeed, I have often engaged with the Deputy. Regarding the up-to-date position, local representatives insisted on an independent review of the clinical assessment of patients' needs. We undertook that review process, but it was halted half way through because the person undertaking it did not feel like the most appropriate person to do it. The process was reinitiated, but it has not concluded yet. As soon as the independent review of the clinical advice given to us and the HSE is completed, it will be given to me. Then and only then will the next steps of this process take place.
Comment on this
Has the new person been appointed?