Written answers

Tuesday, 14 February 2012

Department of Health

Nursing Home Services

9:00 pm

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 639: To ask the Minister for Health the number of nursing home beds available in County Louth at present; the number that are public beds and the number that are private; and the comparable figures for 2002. [7638/12]

Photo of Kathleen LynchKathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is the statutory body responsible for the registration of all designated centres for older people, including public, voluntary and private nursing homes. HIQA has been given until 30 June 2012 to fully register all existing nursing homes. Full details of all currently registered nursing homes, including the maximum number of residents who can be accommodated, as well as inspection reports on all nursing homes, can be found on the HIQA website, www.hiqa.ie.

In addition to the above the Long-Stay Activity Reports, published by the Department present data collected through a survey of long-stay units for older people. In 2002, 497 questionnaires were returned out of a total of 569 giving a national response rate of 87.3%. The survey reports that there were 2,189 beds in the former North Eastern Health Board Area and provides a breakdown of the number of beds on a unit by unit basis within the region.

The latest comparable report published by the Department in 2011, covering the year 2010 had an 80% response rate, nationally. The survey now provides a breakdown of the number of beds in each County on a unit by unit basis. It reports that there were 5 HSE Extended Care Units providing 228 public beds and 9 private nursing homes providing 415 private beds in Louth.

The Long-Stay Activity Reports are published on the Department's website, www.doh.ie. The Deputy should be mindful that these are survey results.

I have asked the HSE to supply the Deputy with the current number of public long-stay beds available in Louth.

Photo of Gerry AdamsGerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 640: To ask the Minister for Health if he is committed to public provision of nursing home beds into the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7639/12]

Photo of Kathleen LynchKathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Government policy in relation to older people is to support people to live in dignity and independence in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. Where this is not feasible, the health service supports access to quality long-term residential care.

While the Minister and this Government continues to reiterate our commitment to the future public provision of residential care for older people we must recognise that the HSE is facing challenges in respect of all services in 2012. In the case of Community Nursing Units these include challenges regarding staffing, funding and the age and structure of its units.

In this regard the HSE is carrying out a viability review of all its long stay nursing homes. When complete, this will give a clear outline and profile of each of the public long stay units including their status on meeting Health Information and Quality Authority standards.

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