Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 January 2019
674. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure there are sufficient numbers of suitable nursing home places available in the case of older persons who require residential care being discharged from hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54540/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Transitional Care funding initiative was put in place to assist with discharging patients from acute hospitals, whether waiting for NHSS funding or requiring convalescent care, and who can be supported in private nursing home beds. The use of transitional care has proven very valuable to the hospital system and has benefitted the transfer of a significant number of patients to more appropriate settings on their journey home or alternative residential care settings. The national service plan set an expected activity target of 9,160 transitional care approvals for 2018 and preliminary data indicates that there were approximately 11,000 approvals. The expected activity target for this year is 10,980 which is broadly in line with last year’s activity.
In relation to residential service provision beyond the transitional phase the HSE's approach for 2019 is set out in the 2019 service plan, that is, having regard to the available resource, to maximise access to the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, NHSS, for eligible applicants, and to continue to make every effort to maintain the waiting list for funding at the current average four week level, as was the case in 2018 , particularly during the peak period of demand.
