Vol. 444 No. 7
137 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the inadequate staffing ratios of geriatric and psycho-geriatric hospitals throughout the country; his views on the need for improvements in this area; if he intends to introduce measures to improve the situation in the immediate future; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
It is the responsibility of each health board to ensure that the level of staffing in hospitals and homes for the elderly is adequate to cope with the needs of patients. I am aware that the increasing level of dependency of patients has led to pressure on staffing in some hospitals and homes for the elderly. It is a matter for each board to address any such difficulties which may arise within the resources made available by my Department.
