5/10/15
New Haughton hospital New Ross. Photo; Mary Browne

THE HSE has said that the New Houghton Hospital in New Ross is not in danger of closing – despite staff being called into a meeting last week.

Concerns about the future of the facility surfaced over the last few days with one member of New Ross Municipal District Council seeking a meeting with senior HSE officials to discuss the future of the facility.

Cllr. Michael Sheehan confirmed to the Echo that he has requested a senior meeting with HSE representatives to discuss the future of the hospital.

“Information came to my attention last week to which I have sought a meeting with a senior official with the HSE for a full briefing,” said the New Ross based County Councillor.

“As the process is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to discuss details, however, I’m calling on the HSE to do whatever necessary to resolve the remaining details and to say we are there to support all the staff, who do an amazing job, and brilliantly take care of patients – who lovingly call New Houghton home,” he added.

The Echo contacted the hospital directly and left a message asking that a senior staff member discuss the matter with this newspaper.

However, as we went to press that call was not returned.

The rumour mill went into full flow mid-week that the hospital was served with a 28-day notice following on from a HIQA inspection in the summer.

However, a HSE source said that such a notice was not served on the hospital and commented: “The hospital is not in any immediate danger of closing.”

The source said: “The HSE is fully committed to the continuation of residential care at New Houghton Hospital.”

The source also commented that: “The HSE is committed to working closely with HIQA as the regulator of residential care standards [and has] taken steps already to address observations made by HIQA. The HSE has an action plan in place to address recommendations made by the authority.”

The HSE source ended the statement by commenting: “New Houghton Hospital is not closing.”

Meanwhile, HIQA (Health Information and Equality Authority), refused to comment directly on the hospital with two different sources saying that the authority doesn’t make comments on “individual cases”.