A public meeting is to be held in Abbeyleix following the HSE’s decision to close the Abbeyleix Community Nursing Unit in Co Laois.
Local councillor John Joe Fennelly (Fianna Fáil) said the move would affect eight respite users and 28 long- stay residents, many of whom considered the unit to be their home.
According to the HSE, “the capacity to continue to deliver a safe service is not possible”, due to reductions in funding, staffing and “the difficulty in meeting Hiqa standards”.
No timeframe has been put in place for the move.