First patients arrive to 'impressive' new Kilkenny facility run by the HSE

The first patient appointments were welcomed on site this week at Oriel House, the HSE’s dedicated facility for integrated care for older people in the Carlow/Kilkenny area.

Located in Loughboy, Kilkenny, Oriel House is a state-of-the-art, purpose-built facility spanning 1,014 square meters over two floors and has been designed to the highest standards as a medical and therapy delivery centre.

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Since its establishment in 2021, the HSE’s Carlow/Kilkenny Integrated Care Programme for Older People (ICPOP) multi-disciplinary team has provided clinical and therapy services to older adults with complex health needs.

The team is working to improve the lives of older persons by offering integrated care and support tailored to their needs and choices.

The ICPOP team accepts referrals from General Practitioners, St Luke’s General Hospital Carlow/Kilkenny staff (including three Consultant Geriatricians) and the Carlow/Kilkenny Pathfinder team.

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Referrals are triaged daily to ensure timely and efficient service delivery. Clients include older adults over 65 with complex health issues, such as falls, frailty and memory concerns.

The ICPOP team also continues to provide services to Carlow-based clients at its satellite clinic in the Sacred Heart Day Hospital in Carlow.

Speaking at Oriel House, upon being one of the first patients to arrive for an appointment, Kilkenny resident Helen said that 'everything was impressive'.

"The building itself, the kindness of the staff, the cup of tea I was given in the reception and the facilities available. I would say it will be a boost to a patient to be receiving care and support in such surrounds," she added

Speaking after all of those scheduled had been seen on the first day, the Operational Lead for the Carlow/Kilkenny Integrated Care Programme for Older Persons programme Majella Cunningham said that welcoming patients at Oriel House is the reaching of a significant point in delivering integrated care for older people with complex needs, helping them maintain independence and live well at home.

"Oriel House gives us space to see more people," she said. "Our facilities include Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy assessment areas, treatment rooms with equipment such as ECG and Blood Pressure monitors and a rest-space for our patients.

"Oriel House also serve as the administrative centre for older persons’ services and the HSE’s home support services locally.

"Our ICPOP Team will be expanding services here. We plan to run groups (including “strong and steady” classes), memory stimulation groups and support groups for carers.

"We will also be linking in with the HSE’s Psychiatry of Later Life and Home Support services. As is customary, our multi-disciplinary team met in the afternoon to review all the cases we saw on the first day and we were very pleased."

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