Over 90 new nursing home beds on way for one Kilkenny town

There will be an increase of 95 new community nursing home beds provided in Thomastown, with construction on the scheme due to begin before Christmas, according to local TD John McGuinness.

The CNU PPP Project will deliver the residential care facilities comprising both short and long stay beds for older persons at facilities across the country.  

“The 95-bed community nursing unit at St Columba’s Hospital in Thomastown will be a state of the art unit replacing the existing hospital that will provide a much needed service for our elderly," Deputy McGuinness told the Kilkenny People.

“Minister Donnelly announced that the Department will deliver seven Community Nursing Units (CNU) under the HIQA compliance programme through Public Private Partnership (CNU PPP Project) and Im delighted that Kilkenny is included in that as I have fought hard for this to happen. Im also happy to confirm that construction will begin before Christmas.

Each CNU comprises a number of 25 bed households including single and twin bedrooms en-suite. This model creates a person-centred approach which focuses on quality of life and an environment that reflects the comforts of home, with assistance provided as necessary in the performance of everyday tasks. Major functional content in households includes dayroom and sunroom, dining area, break out spaces, activity spaces, quiet rooms and external spaces and staff and nursing areas.

In addition, shared spaces and therapy spaces are included with facilities including family overnight stay room, clinical treatment rooms, physiotherapy and occupational therapy rooms and hairdressers’ rooms.

Dementia specific beds are included in Killarney (3 ten bed households) , St Finbarr’s (3 ten bed households) and Thomastown (2 ten bed households) as well as a Day Centre In Athlone.

Equisisk have been appointed to design, build, finance and maintain the CNU facilities for a 25-year before handing back to the HSE. Under the terms of the contract, annual payments (unitary charge) of €24m will be paid by the HSE to the PPP Company for the 25-year term. The sites will remain in State ownership for the entire period. All patient care services will be provided by the HSE. The HSE procured the project in line with PPP Guidelines and will oversee its delivery. The National Development Finance Agency acted as Financial Advisors. 

The project is being funded by Norddeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale (Nord LB), Bank of Ireland and the European Investment Bank.

Minister Donnelly said: "I am delighted to announce the awarding of this contract.  These projects focus on the delivery of a quality health and social care service across the country in appropriate settings and within the context of climate action.

Construction on five of the facilities will commence before Christmas (Ardee, Clonmel, Thomastown, St Finbarrs and Killarney) and the remaining two (Athlone and Middleton) before the end of Q1 2023. All facilities are expected to have construction completed by the end of 2024.