Mr. Bernard Gloster:

I will ask Mr. Sullivan to speak about what we are doing in terms of constructing, refurbishing and building new community beds, and what we have done in recent times. Before I come to that, I will speak to the types of supports for nursing homes, setting aside the issues of finances which has nothing to do with the HSE in terms of setting rates. This year, for example, I have a significant concern about the connection between residents in nursing homes and the necessity, or not, for presentation in hospital. In the past four weeks, we have introduced a system of new community teams. We have developed integrated care for older people teams. Every person now leaving an acute hospital to go to a nursing home will have a comprehensive geriatric assessment, which will inform his or her care plan requirements. Our primary care and community care staff will support such persons in the nursing home the same as in their own home to reduce instances of future dependancy on hospitals. That is in terms of real support to residents.

In terms of the capacity challenge, we can only focus on the restoration of our own beds and the building of new beds. The Senator is aware of the HIQA regulations, as he and I were both engaged in a particular agenda several years ago on that story with regard to St. Joseph's Hospital in Ennis.