The HSE has confirmed to Independent TD for Laois-Offaly, Carol Nolan, that a residential respite provider for people with a disability within the constituency is facing ongoing challenges relating to recruitment of staff and this is delaying the full operation of a new respite house at Ballycollin, Geashill.
Deputy Nolan is engaging with the HSE to try and identify what steps can be taken to increase the number of disability respite beds specifically for Laois-Offaly after it was also confirmed to her that there are only 27 such beds available across both adult and child services and that 15 of these beds also service the wider midlands region:
“There is an absolutely urgent need to increase as quickly as possible both the number of disability respite beds and indeed the number of staff to make them operational and available to families,” said Deputy Nolan.
“We know that the HSE secured funding to provide a residential respite service for adults with a disability at Ballycollin, Geashill. However, I have been informed that The Muiríosa Foundation, which has been commissioned to provide this respite service on behalf of the HSE has faced ongoing challenges with recruitment of staff, which has had an impact on the full operation of the respite house at Geashill.”
“The fact that at least fifty-one people have been provided with a respite service from Ballycollin speaks to the clear need for such services to be expanded. I will continue to constructively engage with the HSE to try and pinpoint why the recruitment issues are becoming almost endemic across many areas of the health service,” concluded Deputy Nolan.