Massive €23 million investment and new 130 bed unit for Mountmellick

Issued : Tuesday 26 January, 2016

Great news today for the dedicated matron & management, professional and caring staff and the Friends of St Vincent's Hospital, Mountmellick for all their tireless work and campaigning. Confirmation by Minister Kathleen Lynch of a major €23 million investment in a new 130 bed public nursing home for St Vincent's Mountmellick.

The funding comes on foot of the Tanaiste, Joan Burton's recent visit to Mountmellick, where she saw first hand the great work being done, the demand for the services and the need to invest in modern HIQA compliant facilities for our senior citizens in Laois.

This is a significant breakthrough and wonderful news which will dispel any doubts about the Government's commitment to the Mountmellick facility and elderly care in general.

I am grateful to Minister Kathleen Lynch for her personal interest in this project, as Lisa Delaney and I have been working hard on this project in co-operation with all the other stakeholders and the Friends of the Hospital for the past number of years. I am simply delighted with this news, no more looking back or looking over our shoulder for fears of the hospital's future. St Vincent's is now secure for generations to come!!

I recently visited Mountmellick with the Tanaiste, Joan Burton before Christmas to highlight the need for investment in high standard elderly care in the county.

This is great news for Mountmellick and Laois families who have traditonally relied on the great quality of elderly care that the hospital and its dedicated staff have provided to generations of Laois families and their loved ones. Also, it is an endorsement of all the hard work and that the Friends of St Vincent's Committee over the years - and good news just in time for their AGM this week!!

This will go a long way to providing the required level of long stay elderly care in community nursing homes in Laois and must now be coupled with ongoing support for services in Shaen and Abbeyleix, as part of a consolidated plan into the future for long stay community care beds and respite care, so vital to so many families.

It's also positive news that the capital investment is also being provided for a 116-bed unit in St Vincent's, Athy, which caters for many elderly people from the Ballylinan and Stradbally side of the county.