While the Sacred Heart Hospital requires investment to address historical structural problems with the building itself, the level of care provided to residents has been excellent. The hospital needs investment of approximately €11m if it is to remain open under the current nursing home standards. HIQA has now demanded that either the Sacred Heart Hospital is included in a new investment plan to be announced by Government in advance of the Budget or it else it will be forced to close it doors. These issues have been of concern to HIQA since it first performed inspections on the hospital a number of years ago but in these reports HIQA have been more than satisfied with the care provided in the hospital. Included in the most recent inspection report is the comment ‘the units were relaxed, and the environments were made as comfortable as possible for residents. The garden areas were visible from many windows and in some units residents were noted to go outside and walk around’.