Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 8 Feb 2001

Vol. 530 No. 2

Written Answers. - Hospital Beds.

Liz McManus

Question:

96 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on criticisms by doctors in the Mid-Western Health Board area of the deficiencies in the winter step-down beds initiative; and his further views on a statement made by a person (details supplied) of the IMOGP committee. [3413/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

I provided funding of £695,000 to the Mid-Western Health Board in October 2000 to alleviate anticipated service pressures and to maintain services to patients in the acute hospital sector over the winter period 2000/2001. This investment package included provision for the contracting of private nursing home beds. The contracting of such beds allows for earlier discharge of patients from the acute hospitals for convalescence purposes. Typically, patients who are in need of nursing or convalescence care are placed in a nursing home for a week or two prior to discharge home, thereby freeing up acute hospital beds for more acute medical and surgical admissions.

The Mid-Western Health Board has contracted 43 nursing home beds involving 17 nursing homes across their region. This initiative has resulted in the freeing up of approximately 1,000 bed days in the board's acute hospitals for the treatment of additional patients in the region and has therefore helped to alleviate some of the bed management problems that are normally associated with winter medical admissions. I am advised by the Mid-Western Health Board that it has not received any criticism from doctors in their region on this matter and that the initiative has been favourably received by clinicians and other staff on the board as a significant benefit to patient care.

Question No. 97 answered with Question No. 87.