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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 4 Apr 2001

Vol. 534 No. 1

Written Answers. - Hospital Accommodation.

Jim Higgins

Question:

144 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Health and Children if his announcement some months ago that all health boards would be nominating beds in private nursing homes for patients who were too ill or dependent to go home and who had to be discharged from hospital, has been implemented; and if so, if the beds in question are intended for medical card holders. [10090/01]

I was pleased to provide funding under the winter initiative for the contracting of over 500 private nursing home beds. These additional places have been provided for public patients, including medical card holders, who have completed the acute phase of their treatment and care in a general hospital and who require short-term care in a more appropriate setting. My Department has been informed by the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards that 761 private nursing home beds have been contracted up to 2 April in response to demand. I am satisfied that the initiative has helped to alleviate some of the pressures which are normally experienced in the acute hospital sector over the winter period.

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