Mr. Tony O'Brien:

We reached a situation in which a number of factors combined to create what the HSE regarded as a risk, in particular for elderly patients in acute sector hospitals. The first factor was the relatively late flu season and the other was the significantly higher than normal proportion of such patients attending at accident and emergency departments who required admission. As a result, it was necessary to implement a variety of measures to free up capacity in acute hospitals. One of the rate limiting steps on acute hospitals is the number of persons delayed in them pending discharge to long-term and, or, transitional care. We have put in place a significant number of additional transitional care beds. Due to the balance of risks involved, we have prioritised for a brief current period persons in acute hospitals who are being discharged for the precise reason that they are at greater risk in hospital and, more particularly, on foot of the risk factors which exist in respect elderly persons with respiratory illness who are excessively delayed on trolleys in emergency departments. The temporary arrangement has been for the benefit of older persons in all situations to ensure that those at greatest clinical risk have had their needs addressed.