State of the art Suaimhneas Respite Centre will open in Sligo this year as staffing issues to be addressed

By Philip Rooney, The Sligo Champion

Following this week’s Regional Health Forum meeting there was long awaited good news regarding the Suaimhneas Respite Centre in Sligo when it was confirmed plans are in place to begin the induction and familiarisation of children in the Sligo/Leitrim area and it is envisaged that the centre will be operational before the end of the year.

It has been revealed that Rehab Care, which also operates the Tullaghan Respite House, is currently running an extensive recruitment campaign to fill the necessary posts. Once the Centre Manager role is filled, the service will be registered with HIQA, as required under the Health Act 2007, before it can legally operate.

Cllr Marie Casserly had called for urgent action to ensure the long-awaited Suaimhneas Respite Centre becomes fully operational without further delay.

The state of the art facility is fully completed and equipped, but remains closed pending the recruitment of staff by Rehab Care, the independent, non-profit organisation appointed to operate the centre under Section 39 of the Health Act 2004.

Cllr Casserly said, “Families across Sligo, Leitrim and the wider Northwest have been waiting far too long for this vital service. The building is ready and the need is urgent. It is now time for the Suaimhneas Respite Centre to be fully operational so that children and their families can finally access the respite care they desperately need.”

She added, “Every effort must now be made to meet this timeline and ensure that families in our region get the essential support they have been promised.”