Tipperary Fine Gael candidate Noel Coonan has responded to political scare-mongering regarding the future of Dean Maxwell Community Nursing Unit saying the unit is “very much secure into the future”. Deputy Coonan received verification of this fact from Bernard Gloster, Chief Officer, HSE Mid West Community Healthcare yesterday (Monday) evening.
“Yesterday evening the HSE, representatives of the Friends of Dean Maxwell Home and I sat down in Cré House Roscrea to discuss the Dean Maxwell Community Nursing Unit. I arranged this meeting to allay fears in the local community about the future of this extremely valuable amenity. Other general election candidates in the area have been scare-mongering using the Dean Maxwell as a political football questioning if the amenity is safe into the future.
“I am pleased to confirm there need be no fear in the locality. Mr Bernard Gloster stated last night there exist only plans to develop the Dean Maxwell.”
Speaking at the meeting Mr Gloster said: “I can categorically 100% with my hand on my heart say that there is no plan or discussion or thought process anywhere in the health service to wind down or phase out Dean Maxwell. I’ll defy anyone to produce evidence that it’s closing. We are advertising for a Director of Nursing for the unit. If there was any intention of drifting from the unit we would not be advertising the post.”
Deputy Coonan continued: “I welcome these assurances because the Dean Maxwell is top priority for me. There is €100,000 funding from the capital plan that will used to develop the establishment. However, I recognise this is not nearly enough and I will be pushing for much more. We want further development and for plans for a new site to materialise. If re-elected I will be pushing for an upward review of funding. There will be review of the capital plan in two years as our economy improves under Fine Gael and I will be strongly pushing for more investment.
“It is disappointing that our local Minister who sits at the top table and his Labour colleague who was Minister of State with responsibility for Primary Care did not progress a proposal for Dean Maxwell for a greenfield site at Cré House when they had the opportunity.
“The Friends of Dean Maxwell do trojan voluntary work to progress the nursing unit. They have to be commended for their dedication, resilience and passion towards improving health services for our elderly population. I am happy to continue to work and help the group in their plight,” concluded Deputy Coonan.