A €31million 50-bed community nursing home unit was opened today (Monday, November 18) in Limerick with a further 25 beds coming on stream at the site of the St Camillus’ Hospital, early next year.
The 75-bed development is being completed in two phases to replace “outdated” long-stay beds at the hospital which was built on the site of Ireland’s first workhouse where the poor, sick, and unmarried mothers and their babies were housed, the HSE said.
Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, who officially opened the unit and met with residents this morning, said: “The difference it has made to residents is wonderful to see. It is a huge investment, €31million euro, and all gags you might have about bike sheds keep to yourself, this is a good use of money.”
“We spend almost no time talking about the great things that are working, such as community units like this, that are opening all around the country, and every euro and cent of it is well spent,” added Minister Donnelly.
50 residents have already moved into the modern new Aisling and Saoirse Units, and the construction works on the second phase (25 beds) are expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026.
“The investment has allowed St Camillus’ residents to move from largely multi-occupancy accommodation that was no longer fit-for-purpose into a bright, new and spacious modern environment and a choice of outdoor recreation areas,” read a HSE statement.
“Most residents are in single rooms although shared accommodation is available according to residents’ preferences,” it added.
The new unit has been registered with HIQA (Health and Information Quality Authority) to meet the needs of older persons “who are of low, medium, high or maximum dependency”.
The care team consists of a Director of Nursing and assistant directors of nursing; a medical officer; clinical nurse managers and staff nurses; multi-task attendants; healthcare assistants and allied health professionals.
Noreen Murphy, from Farranshone, Limerick, who was once a volunteer for St Camillus’ but came to live there three years ago said: “You couldn’t compare it. It has everything you could want. You have your own room; your own bathroom. It is so spacious and yet so compact with everything in easy reach.”
“Everything has been thought of. We came from what was basically a condemned building into this and it was a piece of heaven. The most important thing of all, is that the staff are everything here. They have been so good and so kind to me. Everybody is on first names terms: doctors, nurses everyone – and it is like home.”
Set up in its current function in 1933, St Camillus’ day hospital operates 33 consultant-led rehabilitation beds in addition to its residential services, providing services to the local community which includes diagnostics for both of its rehabilitation units and ICPOP (Integrated Care Programme for Older People) services.
There is also an ECHO service on site as well as a bone health service under the governance of a consultant with two DEXA machines.
Maria Bridgeman, HSE Mid West community healthcare, said: “It was a huge challenge. Many years ago people probably feared coming to the city home, (but) today there is a waiting list to come in. Now many more will want to apply and come to St Camillus’.”
“Every person that comes in has a long life and a long story, and we need to ensure that we provide care to them (the residents) in a respectful and dignified manner.”
Residents are also encouraged to bring their own personal memorabilia from their own homes to their new home at the unit.
