Frontline staff at the Killarney Community Hospital have raised serious concerns regarding the highly anticipated move to the new state-of-the-art facility built on the grounds of the old St Finan’s site.
While the transition to the new 130-bed Community Nursing Unit should mark a positive milestone for the town, workers say they have been left feeling unprepared, poorly informed, and unsupported.
An anonymous staff member speaking on behalf of concerned colleagues explained that morale at the hospital is currently at an all-time low. The worker stressed that the decision to speak out is not about resisting progress, but about protecting patient care and staff welfare.
“This should be an exciting milestone for our hospital, our residents and the wider community,” the staff member said. “Unfortunately, many frontline staff feel unprepared, poorly informed and unsupported during what should be one of the most positive developments in the hospital’s history.”
Staff left in the dark
According to staff, one of the most hurtful aspects of the transition has been the lack of opportunity to familiarise themselves with the new workplace. While politicians and public officials have already toured the facility, those who will actually be delivering the care have largely been kept outside.
“The move is expected to take place within the coming weeks, yet many staff have still not had the opportunity to see the new building,” the worker revealed. “Many found it upsetting to see public representatives being given tours while the staff who will be caring for residents in the new unit have not yet had the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the building. This has added to the feeling that frontline staff have not been prioritised throughout the transition.”
Compounding this is a severe breakdown in regular communication. Many employees claim they are finding out vital details about their own workplace via social media rather than through official channels. Rostering remains a major issue, with several healthcare assistants still waiting for confirmed schedules. Some staff only receive their rotas two weeks in advance, making it difficult to manage family life. Additionally, full-time staff face uncertainty over whether their weekly hours are being increased from 39 to 42 hours without clear consultation. Efforts to resolve these issues through union representatives have reportedly left staff feeling ignored.
Rostering and training pressure
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The scheduling of mandatory training has also drawn sharp criticism. Rather than integrating preparation into the normal working day, staff are being asked to attend training on their days off.
“Most of the mandatory training is still being organised, with staff expected to attend sessions outside their rostered working hours rather than having this training incorporated into their normal working day,” the staff member said. “Many staff are already working additional shifts to help maintain services. Asking staff to attend mandatory training on their days off places further pressure on people trying to balance work, family responsibilities and everyday life.”
Frontline staffing and welfare cuts
The physical size of the new unit on the old Fenian’s site is significantly larger than the existing hospital, prompting fears that staff will be stretched to their limits. Frontline workers had expected additional night-shift healthcare assistants to help manage the larger layout, but they say this support has not arrived.
“There are also significant concerns regarding staffing in the new unit,” the worker explained. “Staff understood that an additional healthcare assistant would be available on night duty to support the move into a much larger building. However, that additional frontline support has not materialised. At the same time, several new management positions have already been filled, including two new night managers, with more managerial roles continuing to be advertised. While leadership is important, management roles cannot replace the additional frontline staff needed to provide direct care to residents during busy night shifts.”
Staff welfare facilities are also being reduced. Unlike the current hospital, which offers a canteen where staff can buy a hot meal at a reasonable price, the new unit will not provide this service. This is despite the new site being located further away from local shops and food outlets, making it difficult for staff on demanding 12-hour shifts to access hot food.
Loss of prayer room
There is also deep sadness over the lack of a dedicated quiet space in the new building. Despite initial understandings that a prayer room would be included, the space has reportedly been repurposed for extra bedrooms. The chapel at the current hospital has been a source of comfort for generations of Killarney families, particularly during end-of-life care.
“For many members of staff, this hospital is far more than just a workplace,” the concerned employee concluded. “Some have spent their entire careers here and have dedicated decades of their lives to caring for the people of Kerry. Moving from a building that holds so many memories is naturally emotional. We are simply asking for better communication, meaningful engagement with frontline staff, appropriate staffing levels, proper support during this transition, and recognition of the heritage and values that have always been part of Killarney Community Hospital.”
Opening delayed as July deadline missed
The long-awaited transfer of residents to the new 130-bed Killarney Community Nursing Unit did not take place on Monday, July 13, as had been previously planned. As the Killarney Advertiser closed for press this Thursday, July 16, the initial opening deadline had officially been missed.
The complex relocation project is designed to safely transfer 101 residents and patients from St Columbanus and the existing Killarney Community Hospital. The phased, five-day moving process is set to begin with the transfer of residents from the dementia unit. The HSE recently held open evenings to allow residents and their families to tour the new building and confirmed that room allocations had already been agreed upon.
However, the delay comes amid revelations that crucial staff preparation is running significantly behind schedule. Sources have confirmed that key orientation days for the staff who will run the unit are not scheduled to take place until the week of August 12. This scheduling gap has created substantial confusion, as essential training is now set to occur weeks after the hospital’s originally proposed opening date.
