Mattie McGrath Demands Reopening of St Bridges Hospital
Deputy Mattie McGrath urged the reopening of St Bridges Hospital, arguing the facility is needed for step-down care, respite and cancer beds and criticising how the HICWA report was handled. He highlighted that the St Bridges Hospital Committee will appear before the Petitions Committee in Dublin as a last effort to reopen the hospital.
Demand to reopen St Bridges
McGrath pressed for the hospital to be reopened, saying the facility had been used as a COVID step-down during the early months of the pandemic and that step-down beds were desperately needed during recent crises over Christmas and in January.
Committee petition and timing
He noted that the St Bridges Hospital Committee will come to Dublin to address the Petitions Committee tomorrow, describing it as the last effort to have the hospital reopened for local patients from East Waterford, South Tipperary and South Kilkenny.
HICWA findings and closure reasons
McGrath said Teachta Hakewell's report on St Bridges was "very, very good" and accused others of twisting the HICWA report. In response, a colleague pointed out the building was over 200 years old and that the HICWA report cited health and safety issues, particularly fire safety, which contributed to its closure in 2020.
Current services in Carrick and local impact
The site in Carrick has been reconfigured into a community healthcare network, the minister said, creating seven new jobs and offering support for people with long-term illness, pain management and diabetes. McGrath maintained that a functioning hospital with staff and beds is needed for respite care and cancer treatment in the surrounding areas.
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Good morning, good. Teachta Hakewell's report in St Bridges Hospital in Callaghan, sure, was a very, very good report. He decided during the early months of COVID to use it as a COVID step-down. It is Minister Butler's backyard, who is here today. The St Bridges Hospital Committee are coming to Dublin tomorrow to the Petitions Committee. It is the last effort to have that hospital reopen. We saw how badly needed step-down facilities were in the recent crisis and the ongoing crisis over Christmas and since in January for step-down and beds. A functioning hospital with an excellent staff with a good report from HICWA and the report was twisted and turned to suit themselves. Hospitals should not have been closed. Will you reopen St Bridges? We are only further ado to ensure that the patients of East Waterford, South Tipperary and South Kilkenny will have a place to go for respite and, above all, cancer care beds, hospital beds that are in there. Deputy, as you know, we have spoken about St Bridges Hospital that closed in 2020 many, many times across the floor of the Dáil. As you know, the building was over 200 years old and it was no longer fit for purpose as deemed by the HICWA report where there was health and safety issues, especially in relation to fire. As you know, St Bridges Hospital in Carrick, sure, has now been reconfigured to a community healthcare network. There are seven new jobs in there and they are offering support to people with long-time illness, pain management, and diabetes and diabetes. I know that it is working very, very well and it is still offering healthcare to the people of Carrick and Ture and the surrounding areas.
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