Cathaoirleach of the Tipperary-Cahir-Cashel Municipal District Councillor Declan Burgess is welcoming a commitment from HSE management that they will meet with the local Oireachtas and Health Forum members in relation to the proposed Community Nursing Unit for Cashel. The project was to go to planning in 2019 and has been the subject of delays most recently due to a decision in February by the HSE Estates office that it considers the original site at Saint Patricks to be unsuitable due to space limitations. Cllr Burgess says that funding for this project has been secured in this year’s Capital Plan and that the vague commitments and responses by the HSE must end. Older people deserve a purpose built state of the art facility in Cashel according to the FG Councillor.
The HSE recently engaged an architectural practice to carry out a preliminary feasibility study of its land at Palmers Hill, Cashel. This report investigated the option of building a new 60-bed Community Nursing Unit (CNU) on the site. The report has identified that the lower field could be very suitable for a 60 bed CNU, as it is an attractive site with good aspect and views. There were some issues identified in terms of access and site boundaries, which need to be investigated further. This will be done in conjunction with a topographical survey of the site. These investigations are necessary to establish if the development of a new 60 bed CNU, on these lands, is a viable option according to the HSE.
Work to establish if the site was viable was to be completed by the end of May and the community may be surprised to learn that no decision has been made as of now.
“This project is vital to community healthcare in our area and the HSE must be forthcoming in dealing with the concerns raised” according to Councillor Burgess who says that he believes the St Patrick’s Hospital Campus is the obvious site for the facility. Tipp Mid West Radio understands that a top level HSE team is to visit Cashel on July 31st which may bring further clarity to the selection of a site for the 60 bed Community Nursing Unit.
