The Community Nursing Unit in Nenagh will begin to take patients from University Hospital Limerick in mid-August according to Tipperary TD Michael Lowry.
The TD was the first to reveal the HSE plan, last March, involving the use of the newly built 50 bed unit on a temporary basis to alleviate overcrowding in UHL.
Bartra Healthcare has been awarded the contract for a period of one year and currently operates a similar unit at Beaumont House, providing a 220-bed sub-acute Transitional Care Unit used by all of the main Hospitals in Dublin.
Bartra will provide a Consultant-led team of Doctors, Nurses, and Therapists at the facility.
North Tipperary patients will be prioritised for admission to the unit according to Deputy Lowry.
The Unit is to transfer back to its original purpose as a Community Nursing Home, with the transfer of patients from St. Conlon’s in September 2025.
Additional bed Capacity at UHL is expected to come on stream over the next two years – 16 rapid build beds by the end of this year, 71 net new beds in June 2025 on completion of a 96 bed block and a further 96 bed block is expected to go to planning permission application in the near future.
Deputy Lowry says the temporary use was a necessary decision in the context of what he calls “the appalling overcrowding and unacceptable conditions at University Hospital Limerick.”
A public meeting is being held in Nenagh at 6pm this evening at the Scouts Hall to update members of the community on the latest developments which is opposed by unions representing the staff at St Conlan’s Nursing home and UHL.
