HSE staff members and defence forces personnel have been deployed to assist with staff shortages at Cahercalla nursing home.
A number of staff there are on Covid leave after an outbreak of the virus at the facility.
A Covid-19 outbreak in Cahercalla in the last number of days has resulted in 19 cases of the virus on site.
A number of staff at the nursing home are self-isolating, while the HSE has offered its assistance to fill staffing shortfalls.
In a statement, the nursing home says it is working closely with the HSE’s dedicated Covid response team, HIQA and others to maintain the safety and welfare of all residents and staff.
While the HSE would not comment on Cahercalla directly, it has said it will continue to support private nursing homes in preventing, identifying and managing coronavirus outbreaks.
14 defence force personnel were also sent to the facility from Collins Barracks in Cork yesterday.
It’s understood that both residents and staff in Cahercalla who do not have Covid-19 will receive their first vaccinations at the facility on Monday and Tuesday.
Cahercalla Nursing Home says it has informed families of residents of the current situation, and that they are doing all in their power to protect and care for their relatives.
Cahercalla Community Hospital And Hospice statement:
Unfortunately, there has been an outbreak of Covid-19 infection at Cahercalla Community Hospital and Hospice in Ennis. There are currently 19 Covid cases on site.
We are working closely with HIQA, the HSE dedicated Covid Response Team and other agencies to manage and control this outbreak to ensure continued quality care, safety and welfare of all residents and staff. We appreciate the assistance of members of the defence forces who are on site to give non medical logistical support in order to allow staff concentrate on their clinical duties and to assist in the setting up of the vaccination areas at Cahercalla.
Vaccination of all Covid negative residents and staff will be rolled out on Monday next January 18th. It was originally scheduled for January 22nd but we are delighted the date has been brought forward.
We appreciate this is a difficult and concerning time for all staff, families, relatives and friends of residents. The Hospital has already informed families of the current situation and again we want to assure them that we are doing all in our power to protect and care for their loved ones.
The management and staff are grateful for the encouragement and support we continue to receive from the families and friends of our residents. We thank them for their patience and support. Protecting their loved ones is our number one priority at Cahercalla.
HSE statement:
HSE Mid West Community Healthcare does not comment on individual cases or outbreaks. To do so would breach our duty of confidentiality to both the individuals and organisations concerned.
Maintaining this confidentiality is not only an ethical requirement for the HSE, it is also a legal requirement under General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Acts 1988-2018.
The Mid-West COVID 19 Response Support Team (CRST) was set up on the 30th March 2020. The purpose of the CRST is to support the prevention, identification, and management of COVID 19 outbreaks across Residential Care Facilities including the private nursing homes.
The CRST since March has been providing on-going telephone advice and support to the Private Nursing Homes (PNHs) in the Mid West Community Healthcare area.
The support offered includes Infection Prevention Control advice and guidance, public health guidance, occupational health advice, supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and the sourcing and provision of staff.
All private nursing homes have direct contact details for HSE Covid Response Support Team in the Mid West and this support at present is available seven days a week.
The HSE will continue to provide this service to private residential units to support them providing safe care to their residents, in particular during these challenging times.
