A delegation from Carrick on Suir is to present at the Oireachtas Petitions Committee tomorrow in a bid to have St Brigid’s Community hospital reopened – the HSE closed it in 2020. Cathaoirleach of Carrick on Suir MD, Cllr David Dunne will present a petition totalling 11,000 signatures demanding that the hospital be reopened to provide step down, respite and hospice care beds in the south Tipperary town. Representatives from Save St Brigid’s Action Group, Ms Susan Mullins and Mr Barry Torpey will also participate in the meeting.
The matter was also raised in the Dáil today by Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath who asked Minister for Older People Mary Butler to re-open the hospital. Deputy McGrath used the recent overcrowding crisis to highlight the importance of community beds.
Minister Butler highlighted that the building was over 200 years old and posed potential health and safety hazards in respect of fire safety. The Dáil hard that the building was now being used as a day clinic providing care for patients with chronic illness and pain management and that 7 new staff were employed at the facility which includes a diabetes management clinic.
