Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

In total, this initiative will provide support for an additional 500 older people this year. People are already being moved from acute beds into top-class nursing homes, private facilities in most cases. The Government will continue to work in this regard. We are buying beds from the private sector for step-down care. Provision is being made now rather than next month or the month after for hundreds of patients who no longer need to stay in hospital but require some intermediate care for up to six weeks before going home. This process is well under way.

We regret that there are people still on trolleys but we are actively working to improve facilities and the standard of care available.

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