Act now and save beds at Dean Maxwell

Dear Editor,

With services in Roscrea under the spotlight in recent weeks, I would like to draw the attention of all our public representatives to the future of the Dean Maxwell nursing home and its team of exceptionally dedicated, kind and caring staff.

Readers will no doubt be aware that the future of the Dean Maxwell as a nursing home is very much in doubt. There are plans in due course to close the nursing home and change its use to a facility providing day, short-stay and respite care. This will mean a potential loss of 20 long-stay places and two palliative care rooms currently available at the Dean Maxwell.

Reports indicate that the HSE is in discussions with the Mount Carmel nursing home in the town with a view to taking over ownership of that home.

However, we will still lose a nursing home, and unless we put in place a new facility to provide additional long-stay beds in the town, to at least match the loss of the 20 long-stay and two palliative care beds at the Dean Maxwell, then the people of Roscrea will once more lose out.

We are told that a new HSE nursing home in Nenagh will ease the pressure. However, at almost an hour-long round trip from Roscrea, the new Nenagh facility is not a practical solution for those who hail from the town.

Older people from Roscrea and its hinterland, who may require to stay in a nursing home long-term, deserve to be able to stay in their own local community with which they are familiar, have access to their GP who knows them well, and where they can have regular visits from family and friends to support their well-being.

With waiting lists in place in various nursing homes locally, and the town’s increasingly aging population according to the most recent census – meaning more, not less, long-stay beds are needed – I would urge our public representatives to please act now and save these beds.

Otherwise, it may be too late.

Yours sincerely,

D Delaney,
Demesne,
Roscrea,
Co. Tipperary.