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New step-down unit opens in Clonakilty

June 11th, 2019 10:15 PM

By Southern Star Team

New step-down unit opens in Clonakilty Image
Minister of State Jim Daly

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Cork South West TD and Minister of State at the Department of Health, Jim Daly, officially opened a 14-bed Transitional Care Unit last Friday at Clonakilty Community Hospital. 

CORK South West TD and Minister of State at the Department of Health, Jim Daly, officially opened a 14-bed Transitional Care Unit last Friday at Clonakilty Community Hospital. 

 The new 14-bed unit will care for West Cork patients who are still recovering from surgery or whatever acute treatment they have had in CUH and in Bantry General Hospital.

  Patients can be transferred to the unit from acute hospitals including CUH and Bantry General Hospital if they are finished the acute phase of their treatment, but are still in need of care. ‘They are looked after in these beds on a temporary basis so that they can get the care they still need,’ said Deputy Daly. A total of 30 such beds are being provided by Cork Kerry Community Healthcare at three locations in Cork.

 Deputy Daly said: ‘I wish to thank director of nursing Mary Nolan and her team for their work and commitment in upgrading the unit. The transformation of this unit into a modern Transitional Care Unit is an exceptional and very welcome addition to healthcare in West Cork.’

Meanwhile, Deputy Daly also confirmed that the HSE are fully supportive of his proposed older persons housing and on-site hub for Kilbarry Road in Dunmanway. 

Speaking to The Southern Star, Minister Daly said: ‘Last year, I met with the Dunmanway Family Resource Centre to see if we could design a pilot that could be replicated across the country. The pilot will consist of housing specifically for older people with an on-site ancillary services such as a new meals and wheels service, along with a day centre or indeed, perhaps, a creche.’

  He added: ‘The whole idea is that we will build state of the art housing specifically designed for older persons, but we will also include a hub of activity on site so that a busy and vibrant atmosphere will experienced by the residents and that a helping hand will always be close by.’

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