Tipperary TD calls for 'full response' from HSE on town's Community Nursing Unit

Tipperary Sinn Féin TD Martin Browne has asked the HSE for a full response on the suitability of Our Lady’s Hospital in Cashel as an alternative location for the proposed Community Nursing Unit.

Deputy Browne raised the option with the HSE as the uncertainty regarding the location of the proposed new CNU continues.

“Following recent engagement with the HSE concerning the location of the future Community Nursing Unit in Cashel, and after being able to consider the plans that were eventually made available to local representatives, it has become apparent to me that one of the alternative locations that has not come into the conversation is Our Lady’s Hospital.

“At present, Our Lady’s has 40 residents who were transferred from St Patrick's.

“Given that the proposed new unit would accommodate 60 beds, and given the preference for a CNU that is based centrally in the locality, I believe that consideration be given to developing Our Lady’s itself for this purpose.

“The feasibility of this option needs to be looked at, because if it were to prove suitable, it could be more cost effective than sourcing a new site and all of the infrastructure that would need to be developed, while it could also address the issue of access routes, which may become an issue of contention for any new site.

“With this in mind, have asked the HSE to look at this alternative I have asked the HSE for their view of this and to confirm if consideration has already been given to this location, and if any studies have been done to ascertain the suitability of Our Lady’s and its site for such development.

“If suitable, it might be an ideal answer to the question that hangs over the CNU," he said.