Vol. 567 No. 1
322 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the amount which was spent in County Mayo on the winter initiative; the nursing homes which received funding; the number of people who benefited from it in County Mayo; and if County Mayo was included in the winter initiative scheme in relation to nursing homes. [13539/03]
As the Deputy will be aware, the provision of health services in the Mayo area is administered by the Western Health Board. My Department has therefore made enquiries from the chief executive officer of the board, and the following is the position with regard to the winter initiative scheme in County Mayo.
Mayo General Hospital does not avail of beds in private nursing homes through the winter initiative scheme. Instead, patients, when appropriate are transferred from the general hospital to the district hospitals at Ballina, Belmullet and Swinford for convalescence. Patients requiring long-stay care are admitted to the Sacred Heart Home in Castlebar.
