Lifeline for elderly day care service users as HSE commits to find new facility

ANN CASEY

The 120 elderly people who lost their day care services with just four days notice last week, were thrown a lifeline this morning with a commitment from the HSE to have a new facility in Navan up and running by September.

Deputy Peadar Tóibín met with HSE officials this morning (Tuesday) and afterwards said he had been given a commitment that the centre would be up and running in September.

“This is good news as the centre always closed for two weeks in August anyway,†he said.

A spokesperson for the HSE said this morning that all options are being considered in finding an alternative premises for the service.

The search for a building is to commence immediately. 

Clients of the centre at St Michael's were devastated last week when they received four days notice that the centre would close last Friday, leaving 120 elderly people who relied on the centre without an alternative.

Initially the HSE said they would be accommodated in five different centres around the county, but the clients were anxious that they wouldn't be split up.

Up to 250 people protested outside the centre on Monday, demanding a return of services and there had been a furious reaction in the town to the closure.

As well as providing a social outlet for the elderly users it also provided health checks, hot meals and advocacy services. The closure followed a fire officers report, which found several serious fire safety issues with the building that needed urgent attention. 

Lifelong friends feared being seperated across the county after St Michael's closure - See this week's Chronicle for much more on this story.