Most staff are working double shifts just to maintain care for residents.
A nursing home in Portarlington is facing a staff shortage after losing almost a third of it's workers during the coronavirus outbreak.
Two have tested positive for Covid-19, four others are self isolating while another eighteen face issues in sourcing childcare.
The remaining staff are working seventy two hours a week just to maintain care for residents.
General Manager of Oakdale Nursing home Valerie Moore is calling it the biggest unprecedented challenge the nursing home has dealt with.
She says budgetary constraints make it difficult to offer private staff the same level of pay as those in HSE facilities:
The HSE has given this statement in response to the Oakdale Nursing Home issue:
The HSE has established Covid-19 Response Teams to support Private Nursing Homes during the current Covid-19 crisis.
The HSE engages with nursing homes on a daily basis providing advice and support in relation to Contingency planning, IPC ( Infection Prevention and Control), and PPE.
We are aware of the current challenges that nursing homes are facing in terms of staffing challenges and we are endeavouring to assist these nursing homes when all other avenues have been exhausted.
We are seeking voluntary redeployment of staff across the HSE and will continue to do so in order to support the nursing homes.
We are seeking Nursing and HCA( Health Care Assistants) staff from staffing agencies to go on rostered lines in the nursing homes for the duration of the pandemic.
Disturbance At Site Earmarked As Housing For Asylum Seekers Widely Condemned.
Dementia Conference Coming To The Midlands Next Month
Midlands Student Wins Two Awards For Research On Energy Crisis
Midlands Disabilities Day Service Wins Travel School Of The Year In The Region
New Funding Good Opportunity To Rebuild Midlands Sports Facility
Midlands Local Authority To Release Plan To Tackle Noise Pollution
Over 1,000 Marriages In The Midlands In 2023
Offaly €150k Scratch Winner Is A Repeat Winner
Fourth Consecutive Decrease In Midlands Homelessness
Emergency Services At Scene Of Westmeath Crash
Noah Kahan, Calvin Harris And Kylie To Headline Electric Picnic 2024
Offaly's €550k Just Transition Funding 'A Slap In The Face' - Fianna Fáil
Nine Finalist Spot For The Midlands In Digital Town Awards
Substantial Amount Of Cash And Drugs Seized In Laois To Be Sent For Examination
Concerns Around Traffic Noise Pollution Underlined In Offaly Noise Action Plan
€18k Made Available To Fund Midlands Age And Opportunity Programme
Housing Minister Predicts Falling Midlands Homelessness
€200,000 In Cash And Substantial Amount Of Drugs Seized In Laois
Massive Laois Operation Leads To Multiple Arrests In Connection With Stolen Vehicles
Over 300 New Dwellings Completed In The Midlands This Year