Vol. 525 No. 2
582 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if any assessments of the need for additional long stay nursing home beds in the Dublin region has been carried out by his Department or brought to the attention of his department; and if he will indicate the requirements for extra provision. [24627/00]
The former Eastern Health Board conducted a review of service needs for older people in its ten year action plan for services for older people 1999-2008. The plan recommended the development of 29 community nursing units of 50 beds each throughout the region.
Since the publication of the board's report, a number of service developments have been implemented including: the provision of 400 beds in community units, in patient facilities and convalescent facilities; funding of approximately 300 additional contract beds; increased funding for nursing home subventions; provision of 40 step-down beds attached to the acute general hospitals; creation of 140 day care places; appointment of two additional consultant physicians in medicine for older people; a range of measures to improve the care of older people in their home and in the community, including the appointment of community support teams and nutritional advisers; increasing the rates of pay for home helps; and provision of additional staff in voluntary care organisations including and establishment of carers groups.
In addition, community nursing units are currently under construction at Maynooth and Lusk while a unit at Leopardstown Park Hospital is due to commence construction in the summer of 2001. Further units are at various stages of planning.
In the light of the new organisational structures and projected demographic changes, the Eastern Regional Health Authority, ERHA, is planning to conduct a review of current service provision and future needs. These requirements will be discussed with my Department as part of the overall development of services for older people.
