Recruitment Of 11 Staff At Thurles Hospital Of Assumption

Deputy Noel Coonan TD

Noel Coonan TD confirmed last Thursday morning that €500,000 and the recruitment of 11 staff will commence immediately for the Thurles Hospital of the Assumption, thus leading to the restoration of 10 short stay beds. The good news was clarified in the HSE Mid West Service Plan published on Thursday afternoon.

The Plan brings more good news for North Tipperary with the announcement of the completion of capital development for Borrisokane Day Care Centre and that home help hours will now be restored to 2012 levels.

Speaking to Thurles.Info yesterday on this issue the Fine Gael TD stated, “This announcement follows a commitment given to me by my colleague Health Minister James Reilly. He assured me that difficulties would be overcome and beds would reopen in the Hospital.
I am delighted Minister Reilly stayed true to his word. As a local representative, I have a duty of care to the hospital. I persistently pursued this issue ahead of the publication of the Service Plan. We have had difficulty securing permanent staff in the past but I was always hopeful there would be positive news for the Hospital,” continued the local TD.

“I want to acknowledge the hard work carried out by the staff and Management at the hospital, by the Community Hospital of the Assumption Action Group and Friends of the Hospital of Assumption who I kept in close contact with and who were constantly briefed about any developments. I also want to thank them for their patience and dedication.
The HSE are working within a very restricted Budget, following the previous Government’s gross mismanagement of our economy, but both I and the HSE have been working strenuously to resolve difficulties and North Tipperary, in particular the Hospital of the Assumption, was identified as priority. I brought this important issue to the attention of my colleague Health Minister James Reilly at every given opportunity in Dáil Eireann. I attended meetings with the Secretary General of the Department and the HSE and I have been relentless at highlighting how significant this issue is for the people of North Tipperary who need adequate step down care for their families and friends,” continued Deputy Coonan.