Public HSE nursing home requested for Portlaoise town

Laois town at centre of private nursing home controversy has no public facility

Portlaoise should have a public state owned nursing home, a local councillor suggests, to give people a choice.

The Laois town where the private Residence nursing home is at the centre of a controversy following an RTÉ Primetime investigation, needs a HSE owned facility says Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald.

There are three HSE nursing homes in Laois; in Mountmellick, Abbeyleix and Shaen but none in Portlaoise where one in four Laois people live.

Cllr Fitzgerald tabled a motion to the June meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District, asking Laois County Council to ask the HSE to build a public nursing home on St Fintan's land, a vast 28 hectare site in the town which is owned by the HSE.

"I am not opposed to private nursing homes. My mother was in one, and she had exceptional care. But people should have a choice, that always gives better results. Not these big warehouses.

"It is obviously land for a health facility. It has lovely surroundings and green areas. It could sit in nicely and would be very central.

"With the growth in the population, we will have an aging population and we haven't got enough public nursing homes.

"I think for the town's size, at nearly 30,000 this is a serious issue. In our Municipal District today we are starting this conversation, for this nursing home in St Fintan's. I know it won't be easy, but it's vital for Portlaoise and for the county. This is an ideal site," she said.

A new 50 bedroom extension to the HSE owned St Vincent's CNU Mountmellick under construction, with another 70 ensuite bedrooms to follow in further phases. Photo: Leinster Express

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley seconded the motion.

"I want to see more state run facilities. 81% are private, the balance is gone completely. With the exception of places like Ballard Lodge - recently closed - I am opposed to big private profit making nursing facilities. Their priority is not the residents.

"I support Catherine and the expansion of our three state ones in Mountmellick, Abbeyleix and Shaen. But the St Fintan's site should be for nothing else but health services," she said.

Cllr Tommy Mulligan however wants the green spaces in St Fintan's land preserved.

"I agree with the need for the public nursing home in Portlaoise. If there is ample space yes, but it's important that St Fintan's keeps its green amenity parks, that it stays in community hands," he said.

Laois County Council will now write to the HSE to formally make the request.