Olivia Mitchell
Question:11 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the action being taken to ensure that acute hospital beds are not inappropriately occupied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22842/02]
Vol. 557 No. 6
11 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the action being taken to ensure that acute hospital beds are not inappropriately occupied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22842/02]
174 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the action being taken to ensure that acute hospital beds are not inappropriately occupied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23087/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 174 together.
The decision to discharge a patient from hospital is a matter for the patient's consultant, based on clinical judgment and assessment of the patient's condition. One of the factors which was identified by the review of acute hospital bed capacity as contributing to pressure on the acute hospital system was the inability to discharge patients who have completed the acute phase of their treatment, but who require further care in a more appropriate setting, such as long-term care, rehabilitation, hospice care, convalescence, etc. A number of initiatives are under way to address the capacity problems affecting the acute hospital system.