GALWAY TDS TO LOBBY HEALTH MINISTER TO SAVE CITY NURSING HOME

Date Published: 27-Sep-2011

The campaign to save a city nursing home from closure has "reached a turning point".

That's according to City Cllr Catherine Connolly who was speaking after a public meeting organised by the 'Save St. Francis Nursing Home' Campaign last night.

All of the Galway West TDs and Senators attended and gave unanimous support to the campaign.

The HSE plans to close the facility in Newcastle, they've already reduced the number of residents from 40 to 19.

The TDs now plan to organise a meeting with Health Minister James Reilly.

The HSE West Regional forum will also vote on the issue at a meeting this afternoon.

Chairperson Cllr Paraic Conneely has requested the HSE defer a meeting with residents of the home planned for this Thursday.

Councillor Catherine Connolly says it doesn't make sense to close the home, when the latest figures from UHG show that 36 people were in hospital when they should have been in a nursing home.