A 75-YEAR-old woman from Bandon is being forced to make a 126km round trip four times a week to visit her husband in a nursing home in Dungourney, outside Midleton despite just living a 100yards from Bandon Community Hospital.

The lack of available beds at her local hospital, which both she and her husband have fundraised for in the past, is causing huge inconvenience and stress for her and her family.

The need to increase bed capacity at this particular hospital was also raised at a meeting of Cork County Council on Monday.

Speaking to The Southern Star, the woman, who did not wish to be named, said her husband, who she has been married to for 55 years has been at the East Cork nursing home since September.

‘We were unable to find a bed for him anywhere locally and it’s been highly stressful driving down to Dungourney on my own to visit him especially at night. It’s just so far away she said.

‘He also doesn’t know a sinner there and if he was in Bandon or even Clonakilty at least his friends could visit him. I would even settle for him getting a place in Clonakilty as at least it’s not that far from me here in Bandon.’

She has been informed that her husband is on a waiting list but she had no idea where on the list he is.

‘It’s not knowing is the worse part. I’m dreading the winter evenings driving back and forth to East Cork.’

Cllr John Collins (Ind Ire), who raised her predicament at this week’s Council meeting, said that the couple worked hard all their lives and even fundraised for Bandon Community Hospital.

‘This is the one time that they need the hospital and what is making it worse is that they are living a 100yards from it. She has to pass it everyday while on her way down to Dungourney. These people are pensioners and then there is also the fuel cost to take on board as well,’ said Cllr Collins.

He pointed out that the extension of the hospital in 2018 yielded just one extra bed and that up to 15 beds could be put into use in the old part of the hospital.

‘Bandon has a big hinterland and older people want to be in nursing homes closer to their loved ones so we need a bigger facility to cater for the demand. Something seriously has to be done to rectify it.’

At this week’s Council meeting, Cllr Ann Bambury (SD) raised a motion calling for urgent action to increase bed capacity at both Bandon Community Hospital and other community hospitals across the county.

She pointed out that her local hospital has only 25 beds with four of those used for respite and that it is vital that the ageing population must be planned for.

‘Ireland is the fastest ageing population in Europe and we need to ensure that community hospitals can cater for people and are properly staffed,’ she said.

‘Bandon has been left behind for far too long.’

Cllr Danny Collins (Ind Ire) highlighted the fact that the Aperee Living Bantry – which went into receivership in 2024 – has 18 beds lying idle which he attributed to ‘bureaucracy’ between hiqa (health information and quality authority) and the receiver of the nursing home.

‘Works were carried out and everything was signed off but we still have 18 idle beds. I also know of one person forced to go to a nursing home in Kenmare because they are no available beds in Bantry.’