4. Notices of Motion
(a) Cllr Ann Marie Ahern moved the following Motion, standing in her name:
“That the HSE establish a joint working protocol to identify specific needs and potential services in Cork for the establishment and provision for deaf/blindness in one location. This is so individuals can access general health services and in particular, specialist support after a formal assessment in one location.”
A written response from Ms Julie O’Neill, IHA Manager Kerry, HSE South West was circulated to members and noted. Cllr Ahern thanked HSE Management for the response and requested that with a new Primary Care Centre being built in Youghal and approval received for a new Primary Care Centre in Midleton services for deaf and blind would be available in both these centers. Ms O’Neill explained that the establishment of Networks of Care is the next step in integrated healthcare. These Networks of Care are groups of multidisciplinary healthcare teams working together to improve how care is delivered. These will bring together hospital, community, clinical and social care, ensuring patients experience a more joined-up approach. Patients will benefit from coordinated end-to-end care and a seamless healthcare journey.
(b) Cllr Mikey Sheehy moved the following Motion, standing in his name:
“To request an update from the HSE on current staffing levels and recruitment progress at West Kerry Community Hospital, and to seek the outcome of the scope of works undertaken in relation to Module One, including whether that assessment has determined the feasibility of reopening additional beds within that unit.”
A written response from Ms Julie O’Neill, IHA Manager Kerry, HSE South West was circulated to members and noted. Cllr Sheehy noted the recruitment challenges faced by the HSE in many rural locations and acknowledged that several recruitment campaigns for West Kerry Community Hospital (WKCH) have been run to date. He asked for further detail on the workforce plan for the hospital, including the number of staff who have taken up duty following recent recruitment campaigns and the numbers of staff required to open additional beds at the hospital. Cllr Sheehy also enquired as to whether it would be possible to offer additional incentives such as accommodation supports and relocation supports in an effort to attract staff. Ms O’Neill thanked Cllr Sheehy for raising this matter. She stated that WKCH is of crucial importance to the Region in terms of providing long-term and step-down care for older persons in Kerry. The maximisation of capacity in our community facilities such as WKCH is critical. Our goal is to increase capacity at WKCH and a scope of works has been carried out in relation to Module One at the hospital. She said, however, our priority must be to secure adequate staffing levels to ensure we can provide a safe service to the hospital. To ensure the safety of both our residents and our staff, bed capacity is configured around adequate staffing levels and an appropriate staff skill-mix. Ms O’Neill concluded by confirming that the HSE is doing everything within its power to open the full complement of beds at the hospital and she advised that she would respond directly to Cllr. Sheehy in regard to his queries on the workforce plan
(c) Cllr Peter Horgan moved the following Motion, standing in his name:
“That the HSE would adopt the early pregnancy loss research policy for the HSE South West employees and send the policy for consideration and adoption to all Partner agencies in the HSE South West, both Local Authorities Cork county council and Kerry county council and to send an information note to the other HSE Fora in the State along with the Chief Executive Officer of the HSE and the Minister for Health.”
A written response from Ms Deborah Harrington, Director of People, HSE South West was circulated to members and noted. Cllr Horgan stated that such a policy is under consideration by Cork City Council and he called on the HSE South West, as well as other local authorities in the region, to do likewise as it would be a fundament part of demonstrating compassion in the workplace.
Ms O’Neill acknowledged that this is an important issue which she is aware has been subject of much welcome public conversation in recent times. The HSE South West People function is proactive in terms of considering the full implications of the policy and exploring what practical supports can be put in place at a regional level and any changes to leave provisions they attributable to this policy or any other would need to be subject to national approval.
(d) Cllr Dr John Sheehan moved the following Motion, standing in his name:
“That the HSE would perform a risk assessment regarding the risk of corporate entities or companies failing and the fallout that this may pose to patient care. We currently have the situation where many nursing homes and General Practices are run by healthcare companies and we have seen the risk posed in other countries to the health system if these companies run into difficulties.”
A written response from Ms Priscilla Lynch, IHA Manager Cork South and West, HSE South West and Ms Sonya Cotter, IHA Manager Cork North and East was circulated to members and noted. Cllr Dr Sheehan acknowledged the response. He stated that there is an increasing number of private nursing homes being run by large private companies and the risks to the HSE and the public of one or more of these companies going out of business need to be recognized and planned for. Ms O’Neill stated that the HSE South West has no role in the operation of private nursing homes and cannot comment on the operations of third-party business entities. The HSE’s strategy, in line with the 2025 Programme for Government, is to focus on building more public nursing homes and increasing public residential bed capacity. When a private nursing home takes the decision to close, that nursing home has a legal responsibility to support residents to identify new accommodation. The HSE South West’s role is to support those involved to find suitable alternative placements. The role of HSE South West would be limited to ensuring that residents who avail of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme move to suitable alternative accommodation in a planned way which protects their welfare and safety. In relation to GPs there are longstanding established panel management protocols to ensure continuity of care for patients.
(e) Cllr Jackie Healy Rae moved the following Motion, standing in his name:
“How many Home Help Hours have been allocated in Kerry, how many are recipients does this pertain to and how many of these recipients are actually in receipt of the home help hours they were allocated”
A written response from Ms Julie O’Neill, IHA Manager Kerry, HSE South West was circulated to members and noted. Cllr Healy-Rae thanked HSE Management for the response. He was happy to note that a relatively small number of clients – 28 – who have been approved Home Support hours are still waiting. He enquired as to how long they would have to wait for these hours. Ms O’Neill outlined that the HSE South West Home Support service is the single largest public provider of home care in Ireland and there has also been excellent progress made in the delivery of this important service in recent years. She said she would provide the waiting time involved for those awaiting home support.
(f) Cllr Deirdre Ferris moved the following Motion, standing in her name:
“I propose that the HSE Southwest add an additional access point to the grounds of UHK from the southern corridor off the N86, to service emergency and all pedestrian and vehicular access from the south of the county (from the N86, N70 and the N22). The single access point to UHK is a traffic blackspot and particularly at peak times has significant tailbacks which can lead to preventing quick response times for NAS.”
A written response from Mr Kenneth Tobin, Estates Manager Kerry, Estates Department, HSE South West was circulated to members and noted. Cllr Ferris stated that she was happy with the response and requested an update on this project as it progresses. Cllr Moloney raised concerns about public access and car parking facilities at the hospital and she asked if the location of the Breastcheck Unit at UHK could be reconsidered as it is located close to a car park and access to the both the unit and the car park can become very congested. Mr Tobin acknowledged both of the councilors points and explained that the Development Control Plan for UHK up to 2040 is currently underway and will address these issues. The Control Plan should be completed by quarter 3 2026.
(g) Cllr Ann Bambury moved the following Motion, standing in her name:
“I call on the HSE to immediately undertake a comprehensive review of A&E responsiveness to women and teenagers presenting with acute and unmanageable pain caused by endometriosis. I therefore call on the HSE to:
- Prioritise timely and effective pain management for patients presenting with suspected or diagnosed endometriosis.
- Develop and implement clear, mandatory clinical guidelines for A&E staff on the assessment and management of acute gynaecological pain.
- Ensure appropriate escalation pathways to gynaecology teams where necessary.
- Provide targeted training for emergency department staff who may not have specialist expertise in gynaecological emergency care.
- Monitor compliance and patient outcomes to ensure meaningful improvement.”
A written response from Ms Priscilla Lynch, Integrated Healthcare Area Manager Cork South and West, HSE South West was circulated to members and noted. Cllr Bambury welcomed the response. She said that women presenting at EDs with Chronic Pain should receive the appropriate medical treatment and good outcomes when experiencing Endometriosis. This motion was supported by a number of members in the chambers. Ms O’Neill explained as the response stated that the HSE South West are taking positive steps to address the issues in relation to the treatment of endometriosis. Last year the HSE opened the Supra-Regional Endometriosis Centre, located at the Lee Clinic and operated by the Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH) which will improve access to care for women with advanced endometriosis
across the region. Cllr Bambury was appreciative of the support of her motion from Ms O’Neill and her fellow members.
(h) Cllr Norma Moriarty moved the following Motion, standing in her name:
“That we provided with a detailed update on the proposed primary care centres for Cahersiveen and Rathmore. Details on the current positions, next steps, and indicative timelines.”
A written response from Mr Kenneth Tobin, Estates Manager Kerry, Estates Department, HSE South West was circulated to members and noted. Cllr Moriarty thanked HSE Management for the response and asked for details of the Cahersiveen site to be provided to her as soon as it is confirmed. Mr Tobin confirmed that there are three sites identified for the Centre and that a decision will be made on the site location in the next quarter.
(i) Cllr Danny Collins moved the following Motion, standing in his name:
“I am calling on the HSE to intervene with HIQA and the receiver for Aperee Nursing Home, Bantry, so that HIQA will sign off on the premises so the receiver will be able to sell the property to interested buyers who want to run the property to its full capacity.”
A written response from Ms Priscilla Lynch, Integrated Healthcare Area Manager Cork South and West, HSE South West was circulated to members and noted. Cllr Collins acknowledged the response and explained that the Apree Nursing Home has beds ready for occupation but do not have HIQA registration. Ms O’Neill informed members that the HSE is subject to regulation by HIQA and does not have authority to intervene in HIQA's independent operations. Private nursing homes are owned and managed by private nursing home operators. The HSE has no governance or remit over any private nursing homes registered by HIQA. The members agreed to forward the Motion to the CEO of HIQA to make her aware of their position and their support for the Motion.
(j) Cllr Dominic Finn moved the following Motion, standing in his name:
“Following discussions between myself and the HSE in 2025 about an office space being provided in the Cobh Primary Care Centre for a staff member (who has also a fully equipped Ambulance car), and after having this request granted, can we proceed for the provision of that office space?”
A written response from Ms Sonya Cotter, Integrated Healthcare Area Manager Cork North and East, HSE South West was circulated to members and noted. Ms O’Neill advised that the NAS personnel involved should go through their direct line manager and progress the request in this way.