The HSE has submitted an application to the health watchdog to register a new hospital in Killarney.
HSE South West says it made the application for the new 130-bed Killarney Community Nursing Unit this week.
HIQA registration is essential for a new healthcare facility to open.
HSE South West says once registration is secured the new Killarney Community Nursing Unit will open on a phased basis with a planned transfer of residents from St Columbanus and the district hospital.
It expects this process to start in a matter of weeks.
The HSE statement was issued after the Irish Nurses’ and Midwives’ Organisation claimed that the health authority hadn’t engaged with the union since last May about staffing requirements for the new Killarney Community Nursing Unit.
The INMO said members were becoming increasingly frustrated at the HSE’s lack of engagement over staffing increases necessary for the transfer of services to a new building.
The union says it would be unsafe to transfer any services to the new hospital before staff levels are clarified.
TD Pa Daly, Deputy Danny Healy-Rae, and Cllr Jackie Healy-Rae support the INMO and expressed concern over delays; Cllr Healy-Rae said he was told at a health forum meeting that the HSE had hoped to have the entire facility open by the end of last month.
HSE South West says there have been ongoing discussions between management and union representatives regarding the opening of additional capacity in the region to include Killarney CNU, that further local engagement is being arranged, and that a senior manager had updated staff at St Columbanus and the district hospital on timelines and projected timelines.
