THE RECENT removal of three beds from the Abbeyleix Community Nursing Unit caused such concern to some elderly residents they were afraid to leave their beds, the High Court was told yesterday.
Peter Finlay SC, for the HSE, moved to quell those concerns when the residents’ case opposing the proposed closure of the 28-bed unit was mentioned briefly before Mr Justice Michael Peart.
Maureen Delaney (89), Bridget O’Neill (92) and Catherine Kelly (93), who have been cared for at the Co Laois facility for a number of years, secured leave last month to bring a judicial review challenging the proposed closure.
Mr Finlay, referring to the residents’ concerns about the removal of three beds from the unit, yesterday said those beds were not being used and he also reiterated the HSE’s assurances that nothing would happen to the residents until there was a result from their proceedings.
“Nobody could be blind to the very important matters raised in this case,” counsel said.
John Peart SC, for the residents, said he accepted Mr Finlay’s assurances but his concern was that the spirit of those assurances had not been followed fully.
One of the residents had, in an affidavit, said that three beds were removed on November 28th, following the earlier court proceedings, despite assurances that no beds were to be removed, Mr Peart added.
That residents said many of the residents were afraid to leave their beds because they feared their beds were next.
“These are elderly people. Their health has very significantly suffered and a doctor has stated on affidavit that one of them had suffered a heart attack.
“They fear if they leave their beds will be gone.”
Mr Finlay said he wanted to emphasise on behalf of the HSE that it was acutely aware of the patients’ interests.
“These are people we have been looking after for years and there is nothing we wish to do or say that will add to their anxiety,” he said.
The court heard that an affidavit from the HSE in the case was not yet complete and Mr Justice Peart adjourned the case to next week for mention.
The residents claim the decision to close the facility was made for financial reasons and without consultation with them.
They said it has caused irreparable loss, hurt and damage to them as well as to the local community.
The HSE says the unit is being closed on a phased basis due to reduced financial resources.