‘Unprecedented’: Calls for HSE intervention on empty bedrooms at Limerick facility

A STEP-DOWN care facility just a four-minute drive from University Hospital Limerick (UHL) has 60 empty bedrooms in what the facility’s bosses say is an “unprecedented” situation.

The company behind the centre has urged the HSE to help them fill these rooms, pointing out that on average, 38 beds in hospitals across the region are every day taken by people who may not need to be there.

Raheen Lodge, located at Loughmore on the outskirts of the city was opened by Bartra Healthcare in May this year. But despite this, bosses say they are not able to utilise the facility as there is no deal in place with the health service.

Chief executive Angela Ring has warned that without this, the centre faces an uncertain future as a care facility. "We can’t keep the doors open and the lights on as we are going, coming into the winter. These beds need to be used, or else I will be forced with my board to think of another purpose for them,” she said.

Currently, Raheen Lodge employs 45 staff, but with the bedrooms filled, the firm believes it could up this figure to 100 people comprising of doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, plus housekeeping, facilities roles. Ms Ring says she has a panel of staff ready to join, but warned this is dwindling, due to them taking other jobs. "We purposely chose this location, because we look at the hotspots around the country, and we know this model works well. The ageing population and the population growth in the Mid-West is huge. They would be the factors we look at when we decide where we are going to build.”

Raheen Lodge is designed to care for patients who no longer require acute hospital treatment but are not yet well enough to return home, providing nursing support and rehabilitation as they recover and regain their independence.

Staff there point to the Mid-West Hospital Capacity tracker which reveals on average there are 38 hospital beds occupied each day by patients medically approved for care elsewhere in the region. Acute beds being used by patients who may be approved to be cared for elsewhere often lead to people facing extended wait times on trolleys in UHL’s emergency department. “It’s unprecedented there are 60 beds sitting idle 1.8km from UHL,” added Ms Ring.

She added that Bartra Healthcare works well with the HSE elsewhere in the country, and has had no problem filling its two step-down care centres in Dublin with hospital patients.

Contacted for comment, a spokesperson for HSE Mid-West acknowledged the Hiqa review of urgent and emergency care identified the need for extra bed capacity to address the pressures on the emergency department at UHL.

“The work of the Mid West Health Planning Board, chaired by Seán O'Driscoll, is central to progressing the regulator's recommendations and ensuring the region has the healthcare infrastructure required to meet both current and future demand,” a spokesperson added.

They pointed out funding has been approved to secure 34 short-stay beds across the region.

"This is a welcome and practical measure that will help improve patient flow and provide some relief to our hospitals while longer-term capacity projects progress,” the HSE Mid-West spokesperson said. They added additional beds on their own will not resolve overcrowding or eliminate trolley waits.