Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 October 2004
170 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she will consider increasing the number of subvented or dedicated long stay beds with a view to alleviating acute bed pressure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26618/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, there is a commitment in the national health strategy to provide 1,370 additional assessment and rehabilitation beds, plus 600 additional day hospital beds with facilities encompassing specialist areas such as falls, osteoporosis treatment, fracture prevention, Parkinson's disease, stroke prevention, heart failure and continence promotion clinics. In addition, the strategy proposed the provision of an extra 5,600 extended care-community nursing unit places over a seven year period which will include provision for people with dementia. Provision of the above facilities was contingent on the provision of the necessary resources.
In relation to subvented beds, the Deputy may wish to note that, in 1994, the first full year of implementation of the nursing home subvention scheme, 3,200 people received subvention. At the end of April 2004 over 9,900 people were in receipt of subvention.
In addition, public private partnerships, PPPs, are currently being piloted in the health sector. PPP is based on the concept that better value for money for the Exchequer may be achieved through the exploitation of private sector competencies to capture innovation and the allocation of risk to the party best able to manage it. Initially, the focus will be mainly in the area of community nursing units, CNUs, for older people. It is anticipated that 17 new CNUs will be created when the initial pilot programmes are complete, providing up to a maximum of 850 new beds in Dublin and Cork. The services offered in these units will include: assessment-rehabilitation; respite; extended care; convalescence and, if the PPP pilot demonstrates success, it is the intention to use it as a means of providing additional community nursing units in other locations throughout the country.
