Uncertainty Continues in Roscrea as to the immediate fate of the Dean Maxwell Nursing Home.
The Private Secretary to the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has informed Roscrea Community Development Council that due to new HIQA| infrastructure standards coming into force in on Jan 1st it will not be possible to provide long term residential care for older people at the Dean Maxwell.
In 2016, the Minister of Health extended the deadline by which nursing homes have to make certain specific improvements to the physical infrastructure in centres until the end of 2021. The HSE is due to complete a Nursing unit in Nenagh that can accommodate 50 residents and the concern in Roscrea is that no long term care will be provided in the town with family forced to visit loved ones 20 miles away in Nenagh.
All Tipperary TDs have urged action from the Dept of health to secure the service in Roscrea. A proposal was made via the National Development Plan for a significantly upgraded facility to be provided. The government decision on this will be revealed on publication of the NDP in September. Junior Minister of State at the Dept of health with responsibility for Older People, Mary Butler will visit the Dean Maxwell nursing unit in Roscrea next month.
Her visit has been welcomed by party Colleague Jackie Cahill TD. The Thurles based TD recently facilitated a meeting with a Roscrea Councillor Michael Smith to discuss funding for the Roscrea centre with Public Expenditure Minister, Michael McGrath. Deputy Cahill said . There have been a number of false dawns in the past, with empty promises being made to the people of Roscrea.
Deputy Martin Browne has also supported the campaign to retain long term care in Roscrea while Deputy Michael Lowry is confident that a political decision will be made to include the Dean Maxwell upgrade in the NDP and thus secure it’s future as a location for long term care provision in Roscrea. That’s all from the news room for now – further updates in the next hour.
