“Service users and staff at the Wicklow Community Unit are witnessing the benefits of integration between the acute hospital and community healthcare sectors first-hand,” according to Martina Queally, Regional Executive Officer, HSE Dublin and South East, speaking at the recent official opening of Wicklow Community Unit in Wicklow Town. She added that “these services support both community-dwelling older adults and also our acute hospital partners. Having multi-disciplinary teams on site enables staff to take a holistic approach to care in the community for the older population of Wicklow. An approach which puts the needs of the service user at its very core.”

Having recently benefitted from a €1.5m investment, the Unit has been extensively refurbished and reopened to meet the needs of older adults in the Wicklow community. The facility now meets modern healthcare standards and provides a comfortable environment with a dedicated and professional team of 40 staff delivering high-quality care.

Aisling Heffernan, Dublin South and Wicklow Healthcare Area Manager noted that “the demand for services at Wicklow Community unit is high from across the county, with occupancy rates consistently above 95%, highlighting the essential role it plays in the local community. The unit had 283 admissions in 2023 and is on target to exceed this number for 2024. In this regard, we hope to further increase the offering available to the local community by adding a further two beds in the coming year as part of our minor capital plans - one bed to allow for end-of-life care and a further bed to enable an isolation facility.”

The Unit currently offers 18 beds for Wicklow’s older community and specialises in short stay services including rehabilitation, convalescence, respite and day services. It is the only public dedicated short stay unit for older adults in County Wicklow. In addition, the Wicklow Integrated Care Programme for Older Persons (ICPOP) team operates from the first floor and provides additional support to the unit.

With a full nursing and care support team and a dedicated team of allied health professionals including physiotherapy and occupational therapy, the Unit also hosts a Day Care Centre for Older Persons which was substantially upgraded in recent years. The Day Centre can accommodate 20 attendees daily and links closely with both the onsite ICPOP and nursing teams to enable proactive interventions where necessary.