Hospital Transfers

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 December 2023

Wednesday, 6 December 2023

Questions (172)

Patricia Ryan

Question:

172. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question 230 of 22 November 2023, if he will provide further details of the process by which the decision will be made to discharge/transfer elderly patients who no longer need of hospital treatment to clinically appropriate nursing homes, and what if any, input the patient concerned and their loved ones/families may have into the location of that clinically appropriate nursing home placement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54012/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.