Harney voices her concern over hospice closure

Sligo hospice: The Tánaiste Mary Harney has added her voice to growing concerns about the continued closure of an eight-bed unit at the North West Hospice in Sligo which has not been admitting patients since January.

Warning that the current situation was not in the interests of patients, Ms Harney said that if the only way to attract and retain staff was for the Health Service Executive (HSE) to take over the clinical management of the unit, "that must happen as quickly as possible".

Her comments follow a meeting between the HSE North West and the Hospice board on proposals for new staffing arrangements.

The HSE has warned that if the "current untenable situation continues", it cannot continue to fund the facility.

As efforts continue to recruit medical staff for the hospice, the HSE has made it clear that it wants to take on responsibility for the employment of both nursing and medical staff.

Because there has been no medical cover at the inpatients unit since the beginning of the year it has been unable to admit patients although the hospice home care team continues to look after an estimated 80 patients in their homes.

Although no patients have been admitted to the residential unit since January 15th, nurses are rostered to provide cover around the clock there.

The hospice has pointed out that it must retain the nursing staff or it could find itself in a situation where a consultant is appointed but no nurses are available.

The HSE has repeatedly said that the unit would be able to re-admit patients once two medical staff were appointed but it said that despite a national and international recruitment drive, it had been unable to appoint the palliative care doctors required.

In a letter to the hospice board last month, Alan Moran, assistant chief officer with the HSE North West, called for a "further redefinition" of the roles of the HSE and the hospice.

He said the HSE's offer to appoint medical staff directly following the resignation of two doctors employed by the hospice had "not proved sufficient to attract suitable candidates".

Among the proposals put forward by Mr Moran was a suggestion that the HSE take over responsibility for employing nursing and support staff as well as medical staff.

Warning that the "current untenable situation" could not continue, Mr Moran added: "In the event that a prompt resolution is not in sight, the HSE will not be in a position to continue its funding for the inpatient service on the current basis."

In recent weeks, the HSE has advertised for a permanent consultant while efforts are ongoing to recruit a locum consultant, medical director and assistant medical director.

It has been estimated that the cost of running North West Hospice is €3 million a year, half of which is raised in the community with the State providing the remainder.

After last week's meeting, North West Hospice said it looked forward to opening negotiations on the HSE's proposals.

It stressed that its prime aim was to ensure that patients were re-admitted as soon as possible.

Noel Treanor, industrial officer with the Irish Nurses Organisation (INO), said morale had been low among members in the inpatient unit .

He said he had been invited to attend a meeting with the hospice and staff on the proposed changes and he looked forward to having the issues addressed.

Local Fianna Fáil TD Jimmy Devins, vice-chairman of the Oireachtas health committee, said he was optimistic following last week's talks.

He said it was unsatisfactory that the unit had been unable to admit patients since January. There was widespread concern in the community given the "excellent care" patients had received there over the years, Mr Devins said.