Deputy Seán Crowe discusses closure of St Brigid’s nursing home with Disability Minister

Dublin South West Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe met on December 14th with Kathleen Lynch, TD., the Minister with responsibility for Disability, Older People, Equality & Mental Health and officials’ from the HSE and Department of Health to discuss ongoing concerns regarding the imminent closure of St Brigid’s nursing home in Crooksling, County Dublin.

The meeting had been arranged after Deputy Crowe raised the home’s closure during a Topical Issues debate in the Dáil in October. Describing the meeting as “useful” he said that there were still many unanswered questions surrounding the closure of St Brigid’s and the government must ensure that people who are resident there find equally suitable care in any alternative accommodation.

Deputy Crowe said: “I am very concerned that the decision to close St Brigid’s will end up costing the Health Service more money in the long run as many of the high dependency residents will need specialised care. There are also genuine fears amongst families with loved ones at the Crooksling facility with many remaining unconvinced that adequate alternative care will be provided in any new facility considering the lack of high dependency beds available in the Dublin area.

“For decades, St Brigid’s provided long term care for a very vulnerable group of women, many of whom spent most of their lives in the home. Being forced to move will cause significant disruption and disorientation to the patients of St Brigid’s, a point I emphasised at today’s meeting.
“The short-sighted decision to close this nursing home is even harder to understand considering it had an excellent care reputation, a fact reflected in the €2 million that had been spent on new Palliative Care and Physio Care Units at the facility during the past 2 years.

“In view of the ongoing crisis and lack of sustainable nursing bed spaces within the public hospital system it is vital that the capacity at St Bridgid’s, which includes a day centre for up to 120 patients, is kept opened, maintained and fully resourced.”