Vol. 557 No. 4
366 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children his proposals to deal with the crisis in relation to long-stay geriatric public beds in Dungarvan, County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22679/02]
Responsibility for the provision of health services in the Waterford area rests with the South Eastern Health Board. The South Eastern Health Board has advised that it is committed to providing high quality hospital and residential care for older people when they can no longer be maintained with dignity and independence at home, in line with Government policy.
Within the Dungarvan area there are three long stay locations St. Joseph's Hospital, Dungarvan, Dunabbey Welfare Home and St. Vincent's District Hospital in Dungarvan. There is a total of 153 geriatric beds available in the board's area. The board has informed my Department that patients awaiting a place in any of these institutions are currently in acute hospital beds, contracted nursing home beds or in rehabilitation beds.
The board has received approval from my Department for the establishment of a project team to examine proposals to replace existing older accommodation at St. Vincent's Hospital District Hospital, Dungarvan with modern accommodation on the site. The board has advised that the planning process for this development has commenced.
