Milford Care Centre services
Deputy Cahill objected to plans to withdraw physiotherapy, occupational therapy and social work services from north Tipperary at Milford Care Centre. The Minister of State said he was unaware of the issue, doubted it was for budgetary reasons, and would investigate.
The Milford Care Centre provides palliative care services for patients in Limerick, Clare and north Tipperary. This week, at a meeting concerning that facility's hospice care centre, a decision was made that from 1 January, all physiotherapy services, occupational therapists and social workers are to be withdrawn from the north Tipperary region. We have mentioned cancer and cancer treatment many times here this morning. It is just unacceptable to reduce the service that is available. This is being focused on north Tipperary. Obviously it is being done for budgetary reasons, but I ask the Minister to get the HSE to reverse this decision.
Comment on this
I am not aware of the issue. This is the first I have heard of it. I would be surprised if it was done for budgetary reasons prior to the new year, but I will undertake to find out what the story behind this is and come back to the Deputy.