Cork TD calls meeting over dementia unit closure

A public meeting will take place in Cork next week following news that St Stephen’s Hospital in Glanmire will close its residential dementia unit in the coming months.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) told The Echo that Unit 1 in St Stephen’s will close “in a planned, phased way”, and will be reworked to provide residential mental health services.

The facility, with a maximum occupancy of 16 beds, currently caters to eight residents.

The HSE said it will work with residents and their families to find alternative placements as plans progress to restructure the facility.

The announcement of the closure comes following a recent Hiqa report which raised concerns over changing management, unappetising food, restricted access to toilets, and unfamiliar staff.

The meeting, organised by Sinn Féin Cork North Central TD Thomas Gould, will take place on Monday from 7.30pm at Mayfield Community School.

Mr Gould said the aim of the meeting is to highlight how the closure of the unit will add undue pressure to an already strained healthcare system.

“We have a crisis here in Cork,” said Mr Gould.

“This meeting is about the future of dementia care in Cork city. 

“We are asking everyone impacted by this, whether your loved one is on a waiting list or may need care in the future, to join us to talk about how we will fight the closure of the beds in St Stephen’s.”