FG calls suspension of respite care scandalous

FINE GAEL has described as “scandalous” the apparent suspension of respite care services at Leopardstown Park Hospital, in south Dublin.

Alan Shatter, Fine Gael TD for Dublin South said: “Unexpectedly, the hospital has this week cancelled all respite care bookings from the beginning of May onwards and has stated that its respite care service is suspended indefinitely.

“Letters have been received by carers who have already booked a week’s vacation and whose lives are dominated for the remaining 51 weeks of the year by their caring obligations,” he said.

The hospital has provided respite services for many years “giving a much-needed break to family members caring at home”, Mr Shatter said.

The withdrawal of respite care at the hospital “is a result of Health Service Executive cutbacks,” Mr Shatter claimed. “The hospital authorities must reduce costs by € 1 million to € 1.5 million, depending on their final HSE funding allocation, and have been forced to close a 21-bed ward in order to meet this target,” he said.

But the HSE said last night it had agreed no reduction in services with the hospital authorities and the hospital had been made aware of this.

A HSE spokeswoman said it gave the hospital a funding allocation in February and the hospital was due to come back with a plan. Discussions on the service agreement are “at an advanced stage” with the Dublin South East Local Health Office of the HSE, she said.

The hospital’s management was not available for comment last night. The hospital receives over € 12 million per year through the HSE to operate the facility, which cares for some 200 patients in south Co Dublin.

Mr Shatter called on the Minister for Health and the HSE to provide the funding needed for the respite service to continue.

The hospital was at the centre of a row recently when Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said some of its elderly patients were living in undignified, cramped conditions. Speaking on a visit to the hospital, Mr Kenny urged the Taoiseach to see the conditions for himself.