Bernard J. Durkan
Question:212 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if he has satisfied himself that the bed complement in long stay geriatric care is sufficient to meet demands; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Care of the Elderly.
I am satisfied that there are sufficient long stay beds available for the elderly throughout the country in geriatric hospitals, district hospitals and nursing homes.
Since the publication of The Years Ahead — A Policy for the Elderly in 1988 health boards are placing greater emphasis on services to maintain elderly people at home and to improve their care in general hospitals. It is recognised that good home support and respite services and specialist services for the elderly in general hospitals can prevent unnecessary admissions to long stay care. In the past three years an additional £9 million has been made available to expand home support and respite services and to develop specialist hospital services for the elderly.
Health boards have used this funding to expand home nursing, home help, respite and day care services and to open departments of medicine of the elderly in general hospitals. This year, new departments of medicine will open in five more general hospitals, bringing the total number of such departments to 17. I recognise that, in the Eastern and Southern Health Board areas, the boards rely on contracting and subventing beds in the voluntary and private nursing home sector in order to meet their obligations to the dependent elderly.
A particular problem arose in the Eastern Health Board area last year and earlier this year in relation to elderly people in general hospitals who required long stay care. My Department gave additional financial aid amounting to £.05 million to the board to provide additional extended care beds for these patients.