Patients at a north Dublin hospital have been left without heating or hot water on several occasions over the past week, it has emerged.
Over 100 patients at St Ita's Hospital in Portrane, which caters for patients with psychiatric problems and intellectual disability, were affected.
According to sources close to the hospital, the breakdown meant many patients were left in the cold and staff had to try and boil water to shave and wash them.
Ms Annie Ryan, a long-time campaigner on behalf of those with intellectual disabilities, said yesterday that the heating had been out of order for 10 days. The problems began on Saturday, January 10th, when the heat was off all day, she said. Work commenced on repairing a boiler that evening and by the next day there was some heat and staff were informed full heat would be restored by Monday. But by the following Thursday there was still no heating and day services were cancelled.
Heat was finally restored last Saturday, January 17th, but failed again on Sunday evening. Five units of the hospital were affected, said Ms Ryan.
A spokesman for the Northern Area Health Board, which runs the hospital, blamed boiler failure in one of the hospital blocks."Central heating has been restored to three of the five wards and will be gradually restored to the other two wards over the coming days," the spokesman said.