Owenacurra health centre closure
Pat Buckley sought answers about the planned closure of Owenacurra health centre in Midleton and the future of services and patients there. The Taoiseach said it was a specific case and he would ask the HSE to follow it up.
The Taoiseach may be aware that the Owenacurra health centre in Midleton is to close in October. With the current Covid crisis and the hacking of the HSE, it has been very difficult to get answers.
Is there any way the Department of the Taoiseach or the Department of Health could find out what is going to happen with that centre when it closes in October? Nineteen long-stay patients will be relocated and every other service will be lost. It is a very big site and people are very worried and want to know what is going to happen to the site. Will the services return and, given there are job losses, will they be replaced? I cannot get answers anywhere so where do I go?
Comment on this
That is a very specific case of a specific facility, and I would not immediately have the answers. I can approach the HSE in that respect, although I do not know if the Deputy has approached the HSE or the management on the issue. I will follow through and endeavour to get an answer.