Carol Nolan demands answers on nursing homes, Portlaoise, meat plant
Carol Nolan raised urgent concerns about nursing home staff shortages, delays in HSE responses and uncertainty over Portlaoise Hospital. She also flagged a COVID-19 cluster at the Ross Dera meat plant and requested written answers on protocols and interventions.
Nursing home staffing and responses
Carol Nolan described nursing homes in crisis, reporting staff absent while awaiting COVID-19 test results and lengthy delays in getting responses from HSE contacts. She said she emailed on 17 April about a nursing home at crisis point, had to contact multiple HSE individuals, and received no timely reply, and requested a written response.
Portlaoise Hospital uncertainty
She urged clarity on the future of Portlaoise Hospital, saying uncertainty is preventing service development and staff recruitment in her constituency. Nolan appealed to the minister to provide certainty that services will not be downgraded and to resolve the hospital's future so services can expand.
Meat plant COVID-19 cluster
Nolan reported that constituents in Eden Derry informed her that 60 workers at the Ross Dera meat plant had tested positive for COVID-19, raising major community concern. She sought details on protocols, case management and how clusters in meat factories are being brought under control.
Minister's reply and follow-up
The minister acknowledged the concerns, said the national outbreak team is overseeing the meat plant issue and noted regulation and management of meat factories resides with another minister. The minister committed to revert in writing on the nursing home issue and on Portlaoise Hospital, and referenced earlier answers given to Deputy Nocton and Deputy McGrath.
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The Minister, I just want to begin by asking about the actions and interventions that have been taken in terms of the nursing home shortages, in terms of the staff shortages, I know a number of staff were out of nursing homes due to COVID-19 testing and awaiting results and all of the rest. I did contact your office, I did send an email on the 17th of April, it was one nursing home that was at crisis point and I'm very disappointed I got no response back whatsoever, I had to email six different individuals in Leash Offaly HSE and it was the second time I emailed them that I finally got a response back, I just feel the delays in terms of our nursing homes are unacceptable, I feel they're appalling, I've spoken directly to managers of nursing homes and they really do feel that they have been neglected and I would just urge you to take very urgent action here to try and address the problems and the crisis that exists. The second issue and I'd be grateful for a written response please of these questions, my second issue is in relation to obviously our hospitals and the staff in our hospitals have played a fantastic and commendable role during this pandemic and it's times like these that we realise just how important and how crucial our hospital services are and I know in my own constituency of Leash Offaly we have Tullamore Hospital and Port Leash, uncertainty still hangs over Port Leash Hospital and they're unable to develop the hospital further, develop services further and indeed recruit staff because of the uncertainty in regard to their future, I would just like to appeal to you to put that to bed once and for all because we absolutely need Port Leash Hospital in our constituency and we need to ensure that no service at any time will be downgraded so I just appeal to you to give them certainty there. My third issue then relates Minister to the whole issue of the meat factories, I was contacted by constituents in Eden Derry earlier and they informed me that 60 workers in the Ross Dera meat plant have now been confirmed as having COVID-19, there's huge concern, there's huge concern in the town, obviously I wish the workers a speedy recovery and a full return to good health but there's huge concern over this and I'd just like to ask you what protocols have been put in place, has there been work, I know you've answered some of it there to Deputy Nocton but I just want to stress the importance of getting this issue resolved and getting to grips with it because there is huge concern out there in regard to the clusters and that's it Minister Gourmaget. Thank you very much and maybe just to start with Deputy Nolan, I think she's obviously absolutely right to highlight the issue in relation to meat factories as did Deputy McGrath, I've obviously outlined on the record of this house the protocols that are in place and the national outbreak team that is now overseeing this issue, obviously in terms of the regulation and management of meat factories, obviously that resides with Minister Creed rather than I, but I certainly take very seriously the points you make Deputy Nolan and Deputy McGrath and I'll also revert to you in writing in relation to the nursing home issue and in relation to Portlaoise Hospital. Thank you. Thank you.
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