Tipperary elderly care reassured as HSE confirms future services and new investment

Local councillor Liam Browne has welcomed what he described as significant and reassuring assurances from the Health Service Executive regarding the future of elderly care services in Cashel, including the position of Our Lady’s Hospital.

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The update follows ongoing engagement by Cllr Browne with senior members of the Oireachtas in an effort to secure clarity and long term certainty for local residents, staff and families.

In official correspondence issued this week, the HSE confirmed that the Health Information and Quality Authority is currently undertaking a review of the licence for Our Lady’s Hospital, which had been due to expire in June 2026.

Crucially, HIQA has indicated that at this stage of the process there is no reason the licence cannot be extended once the review is completed.

Cllr Browne said the confirmation will offer real comfort to residents of Our Lady’s, their families and the dedicated staff who have served the community with professionalism and compassion for decades.

He said he has been working constantly with senior Oireachtas members to ensure elderly care services in Cashel are protected, not just today but well into the future.

He described the latest communication from the HSE as very welcome and said it confirms that HIQA sees no barrier to extending the licence at this time.

The HSE has also reiterated its commitment to delivering a new 60 bed Community Nursing Unit in Cashel, which remains part of the current HSE Capital Plan.

The project is currently at the site selection stage and an agent has been appointed to identify and acquire suitable property within the town.

Once a site is finalised, the project will move into the design phase and progress through the statutory approvals process.

While acknowledging the importance of additional capacity, Cllr Browne emphasised that his preference is to see significant investment directed into Our Lady’s Hospital, transforming it into what he described as a best in class, modern facility for elderly care.

He said Our Lady’s has served generations of families and believes it should remain at the heart of long term care in Cashel.

He also said that future planning must reflect the reality of a growing elderly population. As the community ages, he said it is necessary to think beyond immediate needs.

That includes upgrading and modernising Our Lady’s while also examining the potential for a new standalone unit in the years ahead.

Cllr Browne said older citizens are owed the assurance that Cashel will continue to provide the highest standard of care possible.

Reiterating his commitment, Cllr Browne said ensuring the future of elderly care in Cashel remains his priority.

He said he will continue working day to day with senior national representatives to secure long term investment, protect existing services and guarantee a strong and sustainable model of care for the people who built the community.

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