The uncertainty surrounding the future of the Abbeyleix Community Nursing Unit has had a significant effect on the health of the residents of the unit, the High Court has been told.
Three residents of the home are challenging the decision to close the facility.
Maureen Delaney, 89, Bridget O'Neill, 92, and Catherine Kelly, 93, were granted permission by the court last month to challenge the closure.
Their application for an injunction stopping the closure was before the court today but has been adjourned until next Wednesday.
Lawyers for the Health Service Executive gave an assurance last month that nothing would be done to move or assess any patient until the court proceedings have been concluded.
But the residents' Senior Counsel, John Peart, said three beds had been removed from the unit since the court proceedings began.
He said this had caused the residents to become afraid that if they left their rooms, they wouldn't have a bed to return to. Mr Peart said many residents had been afraid to leave their beds because of this.
The barrister said the residents were very elderly people and their health had significantly suffered. He said one patient had had a heart attack and had been moved to Portlaoise General Hospital.
Lawyers for the HSE said the executive was acutely aware of the patients' interests.
Senior Counsel Peter Finlay said the HSE had been looking after these people for years in some cases. He said they did not wish to do anything which would add to their anxiety.
Mr Finlay said they needed a little more time to put their position on paper and he said this showed the seriousness with which they viewed the issue.
Mr Finlay said moving three beds was never intended to send a signal to anyone. He said until the court case was ultimately decided, the residents need not fear that they would be moved. They would not be moved or assessed for moving, he said.
The residents' action is against the HSE and the Minister for Health, Dr James Reilly.
Mr Peart said until they were told who had made the order to close the facility, they had to pursue the case against both defendants.
