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By Sean Moriarty

The two HSE operated care facilities in Killarney are set to lose a total of 42 beds as a result of COVID-19 restrictions, documents seen by the Killarney Advertiser can reveal.

The news comes less than one week after the HSE promised an increase in bed numbers across the country in preparation for a potential second wave of the Coronavirus and increased demand over the winter months.

It's understood that St Columbanus Community Nursing Home will lose 27 beds while Killarney Community Hospital (known locally as The District Hospital) will suffer a 15-bed reduction.

The reason given for the bed losses is to allow safe social distancing within the hospitals and the Killarney Advertiser understands that no more than four beds will be permitted in each ward.

Documents seen by this newspaper reveal that the measures could be in place for at least 18 months.

The document does not reveal the levels of cutbacks at any specific hospital including the two Killarney-based facilities. While the moves won't affect current residents, new admissions to long term care at the local hospital will not be accepted.

“While I understand that you would like detailed information on the impact on your local community hospital or community nursing unit, we cannot say at this point exactly how many beds will be temporarily removed," a HSE statement said.

"We are currently engaging with staff, unions and employee representative bodies. The Directors of Nursing in each facility are currently involved in a process of reviewing safe occupancy. What I can say is that for about 18 months there will be a temporarily reduced level of public residential service available to some local communities. However, work will be underway to restore the overall number of beds in purpose-built and compliant centres as quickly as possible."

It is understood that capacity at the St Columbanus Community Nursing Home will be reduced from 92 to 65 beds while the Community Hospital will have a total of 23 beds, down from its previous 38 beds.

Local TD Danny Healy-Rae raised the matter in the Dáil on Tuesday.

“I am horrified at the closure of 27 beds in the home in Killarney and 15 beds in the Killarney Community Hospital,” he told the Killarney Advertiser.

“Recently the Minister and HSE said they were opening up more beds throughout the country to cater for patients with the Coronavirus, while beds are actually being closed in Killarney where there is a huge need for these beds to be available. What should be happening now is that all the beds and wards which have been closed for years need to be opened up and used.”