The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is the statutory body responsible for the registration of all designated centres for older people, including public, voluntary and private nursing homes. HIQA has been given until 30 June 2012 to fully register all existing nursing homes. Full details of all currently registered nursing homes, including the maximum number of residents who can be accommodated, as well as inspection reports on all nursing homes, can be found on the HIQA website, www.hiqa.ie.
In addition to the above the Long-Stay Activity Reports, published by the Department present data collected through a survey of long-stay units for older people. In 2002, 497 questionnaires were returned out of a total of 569 giving a national response rate of 87.3%. The survey reports that there were 2,189 beds in the former North Eastern Health Board Area and provides a breakdown of the number of beds on a unit by unit basis within the region.
The latest comparable report published by the Department in 2011, covering the year 2010 had an 80% response rate, nationally. The survey now provides a breakdown of the number of beds in each County on a unit by unit basis. It reports that there were 5 HSE Extended Care Units providing 228 public beds and 9 private nursing homes providing 415 private beds in Louth.
The Long-Stay Activity Reports are published on the Department's website, www.doh.ie. The Deputy should be mindful that these are survey results.
I have asked the HSE to supply the Deputy with the current number of public long-stay beds available in Louth.