The group representing families of residents at Cherry Orchard Hospital has called for an independent examination into a HSE decision to move those living in two units on the campus to other accommodation.
In November last year, 68 residents and their families were told they would be moved temporarily to allow structural work to be carried out. As of last week, 40 residents had been moved and 22 remain.
Families of those who do not want loved ones moved have been protesting outside Cherry Orchard Hospital since early November, when they were given 12 days' notice of the move.
The two modular units were built 20 years ago.
In 2022, HIQA discovered that the floors were weakening and there was concern that residents could be injured if a floor collapsed.
The HSE was told to address the matter; however, before it did, a HIQA fire risk assessment found residents were at great risk.
A decision was taken by the HSE last year to move 68 residents in the Willow and Sycamore units to accommodation off the campus.
Families pleaded with the HSE to keep residents in Cherry Orchard Hospital because some of them have dementia and they knew the staff.
Since then, 40 residents have been moved off site, but the families of the remaining residents have dug their heels in and have continued protesting.
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Ann Sweeney said moving her 96-year-old father would be "detrimental".
"He's 96 years of age and under no circumstances can I at this stage of my dad's life, give my signature," she said.
Ann Herrity's mother moved into Cherry Orchard a year ago. She was just beginning to settle when Ms Herrity was asked to give her signature to move her mother.
"It’s getting to the stage now that she's more familiar with the carers than she is with the family because she has dementia. So, she knows them, and they know her ways.
"To be expected to actually sign a form, to move her and she will go downhill because she is quite frail, and she's gone down a lot since Christmas," Ms Herrity said.
Many local TDs have been trying to find more answers around the extent of the structural issues at the units, including Sinn Féin's Mark Ward.
'Significant structural problems'
He has asked Minister for Health Minister Stephen Donnelly to outline the significant structural problems identified by HIQA in May 2023.
"To my shock and surprise, the response I got back from HSE Estates was that that there are no significant structural problems in Sycamore and Willow buildings on the campus of Cherry Orchard," he said.
"Problems have been experienced with cracking of the floor along the corridor, but there is no significant structural problems in the Sycamore and Willow unit."
Deputy Ward said there were "no excuses" for the contradiction.
"The briefing note that we got on 7 November highlighted the structural problems and then the response I got back from the HSBC estates and on 14 February said there was no structural problems like this."
He added: Something's not adding up here. And I think residents, families, loved ones, staff; they need clarification on this now."
The HSE said that since the buildings at Cherry Orchard, were "as a whole" considered safe "it was therefore deemed that no 'significant’ structural issues are of concern".
However, the structural issues identified with the flooring required immediate remedial work to ensure the safety of residents and staff.
It said that it had reviewed "several phased plans" that would enable residents to remain on the Cherry Orchard Campus during the renovation works.
"Following an assessment of these plans and given the nature of the work required, a single-phased plan (to progress the Willow and Sycamore units at the same time) is now being implemented, due to the safety risk associated with the flooring in both units."
'Insufficient capacity'
People Before Profit TDs Bríd Smith and Gino Kenny have written to the HSE to ask if the remaining residents can stay in Cherry Orchard.
However, the HSE has said there is insufficient capacity on the Cherry Orchard campus to cater for the relocation of residents from the Sycamore and Willow units to facilitate the renovation works.
"Vacant units on the campus would require significant building upgrade works and registration by HIQA before any residents could be relocated to these units. Additionally, they would not provide sufficient capacity to relocate the current residents," it said.
Families want the controversy dealt with quickly and effectively.
Care Champions has called for an independent examination of what happened from the time HIQA first noted structural issues at the units, to the HSE announcement of residents being transferred.
It has called on Minister for Older People Mary Butler to meet residents and the families.
Sixteen of the 68 people due to move from the facility have died since November, including ten who had been moved and six who were still in the facility,
The HSE has said these deaths were due to natural causes.
The renovation is estimated to take 12 months, however, the longer that there is no resolution, the longer those who have already been moved out of the Cherry Orchard will have to wait to return.
Family members of those who remain say they will not allow their loved ones to be moved so this standoff looks set to continue unless some sort of agreement is reached.
