New purpose for St Conlon’s home in Nenagh
Saint Conlon’s community nursing home on Church Road, Nenagh, is to be repurposed as a centre that will provide mental health services to the community, Labour Party TD Alan Kelly has revealed.
Saint Conlon’s closed earlier this month after residents of the home were transferred to the brand new multi-million euro community nursing home built on a site adjacent to Nenagh Hospital.
A number of years ago Saint Conlon’s, which has served the community for over half a century, was deemed unfit to operate as a community nursing home by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), which ordered its closure.
Up until a few weeks ago the home had been the residence of over 20 people needing longterm residential care who occupied tiny and cramped bedrooms that were deemed totally unfit for modern day care standards.
When it was announced last year that the residents were due to move out to their new home in Tyone, many questions were being asked about what the old community home would be used for in the future.
Deputy Kelly said he and other local members of the Labour Party had been advocating for years that it be repurposed to provide a new centre for mental health services.
“We are delighted to confirm that is exactly what it will be used for,” revealed Deputy Kelly in recent days.
long discussions
Deputy Kelly added: “Having had long discussions with the HSE, they have confirmed to us that they plan to recondition the building over the coming months to use it as the base for mental health services in the area.
“This will allow for a range of services and therapies in a town centre location with ample car parking available.”
Deputy Kelly said he was delighted to be able to share this news locally.
He added: “We look forward to this facility opening in the future.”
He thanked his Labour colleagues Cllr Louise Morgan Walsh and Cllr Fiona Bonfield for joining him in his campaign to have the building repurposed.
Many people reacted to the news, posted on social media last week.
Several said improved mental health services were badly needed in Nenagh and surrounding areas.