Fears for the future of Longford physio service following HSE decisions

The HSE has been accused of making decisions 'without looking at the consequences' for county Longford people in the midst of ongoing uncertainty over the future of the physiotherapy department at St Joseph's Care Centre.

The comments were made by Fine Gael's Peggy Nolan, who has been very critical of recent concerns that the service could be moved to Athlone or Mullingar.

Her party colleague Longford TD Micheál Carrigy, who also raised the issue in the Dáil last week, told the Leader he would 'not stand over' the service being moved.

The physiotherapy department at St Joseph’s Care Centre has had to move location from their centre the Dublin Road in the county town into a building that is due to be demolished in six months due to ongoing works.

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However, staff have been notified of the possibility that they could be moving to Athlone or Mullingar which would mean that service would no longer be available locally.

Deputy Carrigy outlined his reaction to the Leader after Junior Health Minister Kieran O'Donnell said that he would take the comments back to the HSE to ensure it is incorporated into the deliberations on a permanent solution.

"I won't stand over that being moved from there.

"I know it was on the front of a HIQA report that meant it had to be moved from where it has been located for a long number of years and providing a fantastic service to the wider Longford community.

"There was never previously an issue or any concern about its location so I just want commitments given to me that the service will continue to be provided in Longford and I won't accept any deviation from that."

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Cllr Nolan said it is a fantastic service on our doorstep, which is used by the general public and which serves people who go into St Joseph's Care Centre for day care.

"It also serves the residents, it helps keep some of them mobile and if they deem it appropriate they can avail of the physiotherapy just to keep them mobile and to stop aches and pains in their joints.

Cllr Nolan stated 'without any warning or anyone knowing' in time the local dental service and ophthalmic services were moved to Athlone and the services should be available in Longford. Cllr Nolan had called for the refurbishment of the the existing building at St Joseph’s Care Centre for many years.

Several key healthcare infrastructure projects in Longford and an investment of almost €8.5 million was included in the HSE Capital Plan, which was approved and published in April.

Among the Longford-specific projects included in the HSE Capital Plan is the refurbishment of the existing building and infrastructure services at St Joseph’s Care Centre to once completed accommodate dental services, orthodontic and ophthalmology services, Midlands Regional Hospital Mullingar (MRHM) Outpatient Department clinics – including Paediatrics, Gynaecology, and Surgery.

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Cllr Nolan said the newly refurbished clinic building and it will be a 'prime location for clinics and to relocate what we lost'.

"The only issue in the HIQA report was a door to connect, it said where it was located it was very cramped for space and then it looked like they would have to move it."

Cllr Nolan said the logical thing would have been to move it to one of a number of vacant sites owned by the HSE in the

Longford town area but they decided to move it to Athlone.

"There is no logic in what the HSE do and they do it without consultation or without looking at the consequences that it has on the people of this county."

Cllr Nolan stated she contacted local Fine Gael TD Micheál Carrigy and Senator Paraic Brady who in turn contacted the Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill.

A HSE spokespersom said, “On the 21st February 2025 the physiotherapy services were relocated, as a result of a HIQA inspection (December 2024) findings. The service was located in the ‘therapies section’ of St Joseph’s Care Centre and was relocated to Our Lady’s Unit 2, on the St Joseph’s campus. The construction of a 43 bed extension and ancillary accommodation is currently underway on this site and as part of this project, Our Lady’s Unit 2 is scheduled for demolition in August.

“An appraisal of available options of accommodation on the campus and in Longford Town has been completed by relevant local managers in consultation with HSE Estates department and is currently being considered by HSE Dublin and Midlands. The HSE will endeavour to maintain access to services for the population of Longford.”