O’Shea Welcomes HSE Plans for New Day Care Centre at Macroom Community Hospital

O’Shea Urges HSE to Expedite Delivery

Cork North West Fine Gael TD John Paul O’Shea has welcomed confirmation from the Health Service Executive (HSE) that part of the revamped Health Centre building at Macroom Community Hospital is earmarked for development as a Day Care Centre for older people in the Macroom and surrounding areas.

Deputy O’Shea said the establishment of a dedicated Day Care Centre would be “a hugely positive addition to local health services, providing vital social and health supports to older people and helping them remain active and independent in their own communities.”

“The benefits of day care services are well recognised — they reduce loneliness, support independence, and complement essential community services such as meals on wheels and home support. For many older people, especially those living in rural areas, this type of service can make an enormous difference to their quality of life. The HSE has confirmed to me that it is engaging with local stakeholders and assessing population needs, staffing, and funding capacity as part of the planning process for the proposed Day Care Centre. However, the timeline for delivery remains dependent on the allocation of capital funding”, Deputy O’Shea added.

Deputy O’Shea has called on the HSE to prioritise this project without delay. “This is a long-awaited and much-needed facility for the people of Macroom and its hinterland. I am calling on the HSE to ensure that the allocation of capital funding is approved so that work can begin as soon as possible. The people of Macroom deserve to see progress on this important project,” he said.

Deputy O’Shea added that he will continue to liaise with the HSE and the Minister for Health to ensure the project proceeds at the earliest opportunity.