McFadden informed by HSE that review of St Hilda’s and St Christopher’s services to be finalised in the next week

Fine Gael Longford/Westmeath TD, Gabrielle McFadden, has been informed by the HSE that the independent review of intellectual disability services at St Hilda’s Services in Athlone and St Christopher’s Services in Longford is nearing completion, and is expected to be finalised in the next week.

“The HSE has informed me in a letter today, dated March 30^th, that when the review and related report is finalised, the final report will be first considered by the HSE’s National Director of Social Care before it is made available to both service providers.

“I am glad to note that the HSE has shared interim reports with St Hilda’s and St Christopher’s during the review process to keep them appraised. I am also pleased that, during the this review, the HSE committed to stabilising the current financial position at St Christopher’s and St Hilda’s in order to protect current levels of service provision.

“Last year, under much political and public pressure, the HSE announced a review due to the severe funding difficulties being experienced by St Christopher’s and St. Hilda’s.

“I have raised this issue constantly in the Dáil and with Ministers Leo Varadkar and Kathleen Lynch. Continual funding cuts during the recession have led to this funding crisis and it is simply not fair that our most vulnerable should have to suffer.

“The HSE’s final report must guarantee that important intellectual disability resources in both counties are protected for those that need these vital services.”