Leak in roof left beds unusable at Sacred Heart hospital
The tarpaulin stretching over the roof of the Sacred Heart Hospital on the Old Dublin Road, Carlow
A LEAKY roof put six beds out of action at the Sacred Heart Hospital in Carlow last year, while an inspection by the health quality body HIQA seems to have missed it.
In a statement to , a HSE spokesperson said the leaky roof had been a problem since spring of last year, and six out of the 63 beds in the facility were rendered unusable for a time. Five of the beds have since been reopened after interim repairs were carried out, but even now a large tarpaulin still covers the damaged part of the roof at the hospital.
During an unannounced inspection by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) in August 2025, inspectors were not informed about any issues with the roof in the designated centre, nor was there any evidence of water damage in the areas of the centre that were visited, according to a spokesperson for HIQA.
HIQA’s chief inspector was informed that the roof leaking began on 31 October, with a further leak occurring on 13 November. The authority was notified in May and September 2025 that occupancy levels were at 63 people, suggesting there had been no adverse effects to the number of beds there, which is at odds with the information from the HSE.
The hospital provides care for male and female residents over 18 years of age with continuing care, dementia, respite, palliative care and rehabilitation needs. There are 44 long-term and 14 rehabilitation beds in the centre, including two respite beds for dementia care, two community assessment beds and three short-stay beds. These beds are arranged in three interconnecting, ground floor level units: the Sacred Heart, which has 20 beds, St Clare’s with 21 beds and St James’ with 22 beds.
The Sacred Heart is the only HSE-provided residential care facility for older persons in Co Carlow, save for 17 beds in Carlow District Hospital for palliative and respite care.
The August 2025 inspection did find that the facility was not compliant with fire safety standards and not fully compliant with standards for maintaining the premises. A plan to bring the facility back into compliance was issued following the report.
A spokesperson for the HSE said it is planning a more comprehensive reroofing project in 2026, which will not interrupt the overall provision of beds or care at the Sacred Heart hospital. It is also reviewing a plan to reopen the final bed ahead of the reroofing project.
A HIQA spokesperson said it has been assured that an interim solution has been put in place until funding is secured for a longer-term solution.
