Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 15 Dec 1993

Vol. 437 No. 3

Adjournment Debate. - Clifden (Galway) Hospital.

Éamon Ó Cuív

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht teacht isteach anseo chomh deireanach san oíche, ach is ceist tábhachtach í seo.

Earlier this year I raised the question in the Dáil of the provision of geriatric care in Connemara. At that time I pointed out that for a large number of people from the Connemara area the nearest geriatric care is in Loughrea and that this causes great hardship for many families as it means a round trip of up to 180 miles to visit relatives. The cost for families in receipt of social welfare of visiting close relatives in the old people's home in Loughrea is prohibitive. It is of the utmost importance that extra beds be provided locally for these people.

This is a particular problem in the Clifden area because that part of Connemara is furthest away from Loughrea. Apart from St. Anne's home and Clifden hospital the nearest geriatric homes are in Spiddal, Galway city and Carraroe in south Connemara. In a huge catchment area of up to 40 miles radius total geriatric care is provided by the health board. The introduction of the new scheme of allowances for people in private nursing homes, which I sincerely welcome, while it has been of great benefit and will be of increasing benefit in other areas in my constituency, has not had a huge impact on this area.

When I raised this question earlier this year I was informed that it was intended to open ten extra beds in Clifden hospital. I understand that finance is available for this purpose but due to a dispute within the Western Health Board in relation to management there, provision of these beds has been delayed, and that is regrettable. The Western Health Board should be directed by the Minister to ensure that these extra beds are provided forthwith.

Tugaim moladh faoi leith do mhuintir an ospidéil ar an Chlochán as an chúram a chuireann siad ar fáil, as a dtuiscint agus an chaoi a chaitheann siad leis na daoine a mbíonn plé acu leo. Bíonn síormholadh ag pobal na háite dóibh. Tá a fhios agam go gcuirfidh muintir an cheantair sin uilig — a shíneas ó Rosmuc, trí Charna, Cloch na Rón, Baile Conaola, trín Clochán féin agus chomh fada leis An Líonán agus soir arís go dtí ceantar na Sraithe Salaigh — fíorfháilte rompu agus roimh chur ar fáil na leapacha seo. Mar sin iarraim ar an Aire go gcuirfear, mar a gealladh, na háiseanna seo ar fáil láithreach do mhuintir an Chlocháin.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin)

In the first instance, responsibility for providing long-stay beds in the Galway region is a matter for the Western Health Board. Formerly the needs of dependent elderly persons were met by admitting them to long-stay hospitals. This practice is now generally believed to be unsatisfactory. Greater emphasis is currently being placed on the development of community-based services so that elderly persons can continue to live in their homes, with assistance if necessary, for as long as possible.

The report of the working party on services for the elderly, The Years Ahead, provides a blueprint for the development of services for the elderly. The recommendations of the report have been adopted by Government and are being progressively implemented. Since 1990, the Government has provided substantial additional funds to the Western Health Board to implement this report. During this time, the board has considerably improved services for the elderly throughout the region. The home nursing, home care and home help services have benefited while liaison nurses have also been appointed. A total of 17 additional long-stay beds were provided in Merlin Park Regional Hospital in 1992. The Western Health Board also proposes to adapt a unit in the hospital for the care of elderly mentally infirm patients. In Carraroe the board has provided an extension which has enabled approximately 15 extra elderly people to attend the centre each day. The board is currently carrying out work on the provision of beds for respite care in Áras Mhic Dara. The board is also examining the possibility of providing ten extra long-stay beds in Clifden District Hospital but as yet has not made a formal proposal to my Department. Overall, there has been much improvement in the services being provided for the elderly in the Galway region which I hope will be maintained.

As the Deputy is aware, the Health (Nursing Homes) Act, 1990, came into operation on 1 September last. I understand that this country is the only member state of the European Union to implement new legislation in favour of older people during this the European Year of Older People and Solidarity between Generations.

The Nursing Homes Act has two principal objectives: first, to ensure that all nursing homes which care for the dependent elderly have a high standard of accommodation and care, and secondly, to financially assist dependent persons most in need in paying their nursing home fees. The implementation of the Act is another important step in honouring the commitments in the Programme for a Partnership Government.

Under the new legislation a dependent person requiring nursing care who cannot afford to pay for the full costs of care in a home can apply to a health board for a subvention towards the cost of care. Each case is being assessed by the health board and it is my hope that the new subvention scheme will ensure that those most in need will benefit from the new scheme. The new Act is a major step forward in ensuring that dependent elderly persons will be well cared for, which is surely the aspiration of any truly caring society. The Act, therefore, will provide the health board with yet another option in meeting the needs of the dependent elderly in their region.