HSE's U-turn on respite beds 'a major victory'

THE HEALTH Service Executive (HSE) has reversed its decision to close respite beds at Cherry Orchard Hospital in Dublin.

Residents and their relatives had been informed that the HSE proposed closing 12 of the 24 respite beds due to health cutbacks.

The closures would have affected 24 patients who have availed of the beds on a "roll-over" basis. The closures had been planned for June of this year. The proposals provoked a storm of protest from local residents and public representatives, causing the HSE to reconsider.

Carers were informed this week that the budget is now in place to fully restore the roll-over respite service. A HSE spokeswoman said it had let residents and relatives know that it would do its "utmost" to keep the facility open. "That's now been done," she said.

About 100 residents turned up for a "victory rally" yesterday in Ballyfermot, which had been originally called to protest at the closure. Rally organiser Cllr Joan Collins described the HSE U-turn as a "major victory for people power".

"All credit for this U-turn by the HSE is due to the carers, their families and the wider community," she said. "All local community groups, churches and politicians got behind the campaign and have shown that through unity, determination and people power we can achieve success in the face of inhuman and outrageous cuts by the HSE."

Labour Party TD Mary Upton, welcoming the reversal, said the original decision would have put pressure on accident and emergency departments and acute beds. It had caused much distress, she said. "Respite care may be the only break that some carers get for themselves and for their families from the full-time care of their elderly and ill relations."