Fresh fears have emerged for the future of the Erkina House residential health home in Rathdowney with families and local people believing that its days are numbered.

Some three years after its closure was apparently halted, there are now just three residents in the HSE-run home for people with long-term mental health needs.

Sharon Case Cleary is the daughter of one of the remaining residents. Speaking to the Leinster Express / Laois Live she claimed that residents were 'quietly moved' from the Rathdowney facility to pave the way for closure.

The Abbeyleix woman says she was informed recently that her father would be moved to another facility, while Erkina House shuts down.

"One of the nurses rang me about my dad coming out to visit, and she told me there was something she wanted to let me know.

"She told me ‘we are going to close it down’ and that someone was going to speak to my father about moving to a nursing home in Portarlington.

"We have no links to Portarlington. I told staff that I wasn't happy with this, as Erkina House is his home, he has lived there for almost 30 years.

"If they don't get my dad to move out, then they'll move on to the next patient, where do I stand then?

“He'd be in a big house where he's on his own. It's not going to end here, until the HSE get their way. The promises made were just temporarily sorting it.

“This issue hasn't reared its head in such a long time, and they've moved out nine residents with no one made aware. A year ago, I was told that my dad's physical needs need to be looked at, that he wasn't able to live independently and needed a nursing home. My dad is quite a fit man physically, it is his mental health needs that are greater," she said.

Ms Case Cleary explained that her father loves his routine of walking to the local supermarket to purchase cigarettes and chocolate bars, and that he is in good physical health.

"A nursing home doesn't have the understanding of the needs for a patient with mental health issues. Dad is so set in his ways, this will be a big upheaval for him and other patients," she said.

Ms Case Clear believes that the HSE has a clear plan.

"This isn't something that is up in the air like it was in 2022, there seems to be a plan here that will be done as quickly as they can.

"They will persuade my father to agree to a move, and he will agree with whoever encourages him," she said.

Ms Case Cleary thanked Rathdowney's community for fighting for the facility to remain operational in 2022.

"The community put a hold on it back then when they backed Erkina House. I think this is something that is going to be enforced now, I don't think we will get the last say when there are only three residents left," she said.

Pictured: Erkina House

A source involved in the campaign said Rathdowney has been good for the residents.

“Residents were able to walk across to the shop and buy their few bits, they had a certain level of independence living in Erkina House,” he said.

The source said residents who have left have lost independence.

“One resident has since been sent to Abbeyleix, where they now depend on people to bring them to the shops.
"They have been transferring patients over the year that weren’t ready to go, they weren’t nursing home material,” said the source.

He feared for the future.

“They can’t have around 12 staff members with so few patients. There have been no investments into Rathdowney over the years,” the source told the Leinster Express.

Pictured: a public meeting held to discuss the potential closure of Erkina House, 2022.

Erkina House has operated as a rehabilitation facility since 1996, with the capacity for 16 residents.  This capacity was reduced to 11 following the Covid-19 pandemic.

In 2023, the Leinster Express / Laois Live reported that an HSE review found that the facility did not meet the required guidelines and would need a €5.3 million injection to achieve the necessary standard.

This followed a snap HSE decision in April 2022 to shut the facility, relocating patients to the Silver Lodge facility in Tullamore which itself has been criticised by the Mental Health Commission.

Rathdowney locals established the 'Save Erkina House' campaign, where public meetings were held with local politicians.

On foot of a public meeting protesting closure and a Ministerial intervention, the HSE committed to carrying out an appraisal of options that would include a professional assessment of the building and an estimate of overhaul costs.

The HSE apologised in 2022 to Erkina House their relatives, staff, local community, public representatives and anyone impacted by the manner in which the matter was originally communicated.

The Leinster Express / Laois Live has contacted the HSE and the Department of Health for comment.

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HSE and the Department of Health must state publicly its intentions for Erkina House rather use the abscence of an official decision on its future as a means to render the facility unsustainable, according to Laois TD Brian Stanley.

The independent TD made the call while also insisting the the the home can serve a purpose and is needed. However, he is concerned that the HSE is creating a scenario where there could be no other choice but to shut it down when just one resident is left in the home.

However, the TD who revealed the closure plan back in 2022, said he is not suprised by the current situation and believes this is what the HSE always intended to shut it down.

“The position is a decision has been made but they just couldn't say it. They have just been wearing it down to a point where it gets to a last man or woman standing scenario,” he said.

He is not suprised by the approach taken by the health authorities.

“This is typical. Despite many meetings with the HSE, it being raised in the Dáil and bringing in a consultant and doing an assessment of what is needed on the building, the official line is that they have made no decision,” he said.

He believes that Erkina House has potential as a care facility for people with mental health needs.

“We have the Maryborough Centre in Portlaoise but there needs to be something similar at the other end of the county,” he said.
He said the HSE has said there should be four such facilities across Laois and Offaly and Rathdowney is the best option for Laois.
“I am calling on the HSE and the Department of Health to come clean on it,” he said.

Rathdowney-based Cllr John King said he has concerns for the future of the building. Government TDs Seán Fleming and Willie Aird did not comment.