A second palliative care bed at St Joseph's Care Centre in Longford should only cost €60,000 a year according to a local councillor.
Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council and Fine Gael councillor Peggy Nolan is calling for the red tape to be cut around the provision of the second bed.
St Joseph's Care Centre is currently set for an extensive refurbishment, with planners approving the development of a 43-bed residential extension to the Dublin Road facility.
The centre currently has one palliative care bed at the facility, with local representative calling for a second bed to be installed for patients in the county.
According to the HSE, any decision to re-designate beds in the centre from long term care to palliative care would result in a reduction in funding from the Fair Deal scheme and increased costs for the unit.
Councillor Nolan says the financial impact on the unit should only amount to €60,000.
Speaking to Shannonside Northern Sound, she says Longford families deserve to have this cost paid by the HSE.
