Mr. Damien McCallion:

With regard to older people from nursing homes presenting in emergency departments, they represent approximately 2% to 3% of all admissions. We have 15 community intervention teams in the country. Four came through the winter initiative and they are still in the formation stage. These are the teams that typically go into nursing homes. The Deputy's question is fair. There is still further scope for this. Some of the teams work very well and some are trying to expand the geographical areas they cover for patients. There is also work to be done on general practice with regard to medical oversight.

There is further scope there. There is one very good example, which has published research, in the Mater where, as referred to by Dr. Colm Henry, the geriatrician has gone out to provide some of that clinical oversight and worked with the community intervention team to try to keep a larger number of people in what is their home - a nursing home - versus their having to be brought into hospital. Where it has worked it has been successful and there is definitely further scope in the area.