“MONAGHAN BEDS FOR MONAGHAN PATIENTS” CALL – CHRONIC RESPITE NEED HIGHLIGHTED BY CLONES-BALLYBAY COUNCILLORS

23 October 2015 No Comments by The Northern Standard

PETER HUGHES

A rallying cry of “Monaghan beds for Monaghan patients” issued from Monday’s meeting of the Clones-Ballybay Municipal District when a motion tabled by Fianna Fáil councillor Seamus Coyle highlighted the chronic shortage of respite facilities in the county.

Colr Coyle sought the intervention of Health Minister Leo Varadkar to address a situation in which he claimed that only nine respite beds were available to cater for the need arising in the entirety of Co Monaghan and a large part of neighbouring Co Cavan.

His motion, which won the unanimous support of his Municipal District colleagues, stated:

“As the HSE currently provides no respite beds/facilities in Co Monaghan, with only very limited accommodation in Cavan at the Lisdarn Centre for older persons, the Ballybay-Clones Municipal District calls on the Minister for Health Leo Varadkar TD and the HSE to immediately make available respite beds/facilities at a Monaghan location for Monaghan patients, to allow them remain in their own county to facilitate visits of family, etc.”

Colr Coyle requested that the motion be forwarded not alone to the Minister and the HSE, but to the constituency’s Oireachtas representatives, the county’s other Municipal Districts and Monaghan Co Council.

The FF representative told the meeting that this matter had been drawn to his attention by a number of people, and was the cause of severe pressure on carers and family members who needed the break afforded by respite availability.

Referring to a recent briefing at St Mary’s Hospital in Castleblayney, Colr Coyle said there were only nine beds in the St Mary’s unit to cater for …

 

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