Unconfirmed reports this week suggest that Centric Health, the healthcare service provider that assumed operational management of St. Francis’ Private Hospital, Ballinderry Mullingar last April, are seeking as many as 36 voluntary redundancies at the hospital.
Kieran Wallace of KMPG was appointed as receiver of VFM Healthcare Ltd, the entity which traded as St. Francis’ Private Hospital, last April and put healthcare provider, Centric Health, in charge, with immediate effect. Centric Health, founded in 2003, is one of Ireland’s leading providers of healthcare services which operates 8 other primary care facilities, 3 swiftcare clinics in partnership with the VHI as well as working nationally with the HSE.
At the time of the receivership announcement. the receiver stated that the appointment of Centric Health “brings stability to the hospital” and ensures it remains open providing a full service to all of its patients. The latest reports obviously will come as a major disappointment for workers who may have assumed that their jobs were secure following the appointment of the healthcare provider.
It is understood that the hospital management will meet with staff interested in availing of the voluntary redundancy package in the coming weeks. Among the facilities at the private hospital are a 92 acute bed facility, complete with 4 operating theatres, 2 endoscopy units, a cardiology assessment unit, emergency department, rapid assessment medical unit, coloscopy unit, rheumatology unit, and a pulmonary assessment unit. The hospital is part of St. Francis Health Village which also comprises of Ballinderry Clinic and St. Clair’s Nursing Home.
Topic contacted Centric Health a number of times on the matter from early on Monday, but no public statement was issued by them before going to press on Tuesday evening.
