Pickets placed on Carlow care home

Pickets have been placed outside the Bethany House Welfare Home in Co Carlow over the Health Service Executive's plans to shut it and move its 25 elderly residents to other facilities.

The HSE said last month it has decided to close the home following an independent review that found it was no longer able to provide appropriate services due to the increasing levels of dependencies of its patients.

The Save Bethany Campaign argues that the home should be refurbished rather than shut. "The review found that with a modest capital investment, combined with other facilities in the town, it could meet the needs of all older people," campaign spokeswoman Dr Mairead Byrne argued. She alleged the HSE was motivated by cutting costs rather than patient welfare.

She insisted the peaceful protests will continue until the HSE agrees to a meeting over the home. "If they can concretely prove to us that they have a 100 per cent case, we'll back down," she said.

The HSE today denied campaign claims that two elderly women were moved from the home last night against their wishes.

"Two residents were moved after a process of consultation and face-to-face meetings with the individuals and their families by senior HSE staff. The move was carried out with full consultation and was not done under any duress," said Anna Marie Lanigan, HSE local health manager for Carlow Kilkenny.

Dr Byrne said while the two women, both of whom are in their 90s, may have given their formal consent, she had been told by staff they did not want to leave. "These two people were told they had no choice, Bethany House was closing and they had to move," she said.

About 50 campaign members blockaded the entrance to the home yesterday afternoon as two taxis arrrived to transfer the women, Dr Byrne said. Following a standoff, an ambulance and gardai were called and the residents were eventually moved.

"This whole episode and the manner in which this movement took place is indicative of a HSE dictatorship and lack of concern for the residents," she said.

The HSE said the remaining patients would be moved to either the Sacred Heart Hospital, private nursing homes or other welfare homes in the Carlow area. "We have every empathy for residents, that change can be unsettling, and we want to say with certainty that where residents have formed friendships with others in the home, these will be taken into account; and people will be relocated in groups, wherever possible," Ms Lanigan said.