Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 January 2015
16. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Health the number of community geriatric teams comprising a geriatrician and specialist nurse currently operating here; his plans to expand such services nationwide to help relieve pressures on bed occupancy in hospitals, particularly at times of over-capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2332/15]
View answerConsultant Geriatrician posts are in general contracted to the acute hospital system with some exceptions. In practice, geriatricians will provide an extended service to the community by way of undertaking clinics in a variety of settings including community hospitals, rehabilitation facilities and primary care centres. This type of outreach service provided in an integrated manner is a significant support to community services and to maintaining older people in their own homes and communities.
Historically, consultant geriatrician appointments were made to acute hospitals and thereafter community links, including provision of dedicated sessions, were put in place once the geriatrician was in post. In more recent years, fuller consideration of such sessions has been undertaken in advance of appointment and the particular community duties of the post have formed part of the recruitment process.
It is the intention of the HSE to develop an integrated care programme for older people in 2015 which will examine the variety of ways that consultant geriatricians currently work across hospital and community and to determine what is the most effective way to do so into the future.
There are currently 8 nurse-led Community Intervention Teams nationally. These teams are not specific to older people but in practice much of the service provided is intended to support older people and avoid or reduce a hospital stay. New teams are being implemented in Naas, Drogheda and Waterford with an additional 8,000 patients planned to be treated nationally by such teams in 2015.
