CONFIRMED: Tipperary nursing home set to return to community use

A community nursing home in Tipperary is set to revert to its original intended use later this year, after it was repurposed as a step-down facility to ease pressure on University Hospital Limerick (UHL).

St Conlon's Nursing Home in Nenagh was constructed at a cost of €23million, but was repurposed as a step-down facility to serve UHL.

Now, it has been confirmed that the building will be used as a community nursing home from October of this year.

North Tipperary TD Michael Lowry welcomed the news saying that there were fears that the building would never be returned to the local community.

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"In recent discussions with the HSE and Department officials, I insisted that the temporary contract for the use new Community Nursing Home would not be extended.

"I am pleased that the HSE has now confirmed to me that the contract will expire this September and will not be renewed," Deputy Lowry said.

The North Tipperary TD continued, saying: "this now clears the way for the transfer of patients and staff at St. Conlon’s to the new unit. This will happen in October of this year.

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"This delayed transfer was regrettable, but arose out of the chronic over-crowding at UHL. This overdue decision is welcome news for all involved with St. Conlon’s," he added.

He said that there "was understandable upset last year when it was learned that the Nursing Home would be used by the HSE as a step-down progressive care facility to alleviate over-crowding at University Hospital Limerick.

"Fears were expressed at the time that the state-of-the-art building would not be returned to the local community as a Nursing Home," Deputy Lowry said.