Blarney to get new nursing home this year
A new nursing home facility is expected to be up and running in Cork before the year is out.
Located on the premises of the former Blarney Hotel and Golf Resort, the Blarney Community Nursing Home is scheduled to become fully staffed and operational towards the end of 2023.
Conversion of the property into a Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) compliant unit has been ongoing since the property was acquired by the HSE in 2021 and construction work has recently been completed.
The home will be operated and staffed by the HSE and will provide for 50 single ensuite rooms over 2 floors and a specialist bariatric unit.
Welcoming the news was Fine Gael Cllr Eileen Lynch who had previously asked for an update on the planned facility at a recent HSE South Forum.
“Elderly care is such an important part of society and with recent nursing home closures this facility will be a useful and necessary resource for the surrounding areas,” said Cllr Lynch.
She added: “Whilst I strongly believe that we need to invest more in community care to allow elderly people to live in their own homes for as long as possible, this facility will provide a viable alternative for those in the Blarney-Inniscarra area.
“This facility of course will not be limited to those from the surrounding catchment area but generally those who wish to receive residential care want to stay in their local area.”
Michael Fitzgerald of Cork-Kerry Community Healthcare said: “The emergence of Blarney Community Nursing Unit in this region will help to mitigate this shortage and will facilitate Cork Kerry Community Healthcare’s provision of high-quality residential care for older people who need such care.”
Significant input is required prior to HIQA inspection and the HSE South Estates department has confirmed that the current status would indicate that an application for registration can be made in Q3 2023.
It was also confirmed that workforce planning is well underway for the new unit. Pending registration, formal commissioning and final contract handover, it is envisaged that the facility will become operational and staffed in Q4 2023.