Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

Yes, there will be a significant difference. I have said that the Department is about to announce that it has succeeded in acquiring intermediate beds for 500 patients, which will greatly alleviate the pressure on accident and emergency services. Facilities for 100 high-dependency patients, who are currently in the acute hospitals system, will be developed in the next week or so. It is clear that such developments will free many beds which can be used for accident and emergency services. The difficulty we face at present is that the controversy about nursing home charges is making it more difficult for the management of hospitals to encourage people to move to more appropriate settings. That is an issue. I understand that the wards in Galway have been closed because of an outbreak of flu in the hospital.

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