Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2004
739 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if the maximum advice, assistance and support will be given to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 when they return home after being ill. [1764/04]
View answerI am pleased to advise the Deputy that there are a range of community supports in place for patients when discharged from hospital. Since my appointment as Minister of State, I have encouraged the authority and the health boards to develop their services to more focused individual care need e.g. public health nurse service, attendance at day care, day hospital and rehabilitation, and the provision of respite care, home help and care assistance, which also provided for home based subvention as an alternative to long-stay residential care.
The level of support provided depends on the persons needs, age, family supports, etc. The normal procedure on discharge from hospital, an individual's needs are assessed by their own GP in consultation with the geriatrician and the public health nurse, where necessary.
As the Deputy will be aware, the provision of health services in the Dublin 5 area is, in the first instance, the responsibility of the Northern Area Health Board acting under the aegis of the Eastern Regional Health Authority. My Department has, therefore, asked the chief executive officer of the authority to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and reply direct to him as a matter of urgency.
