Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

The number of delayed discharges in the major Dublin hospitals stands at 377. This is the lowest number since January 2005 and has been achieved as a result of the various measures implemented to improve the delivery of accident and emergency services.

The following additional actions have been taken: 48 high dependency beds have been contracted in private nursing homes for those patients with more demanding care needs; 388 patients have been discharged in 95 intermediate care beds for six to eight-week stays since contracts with private providers commenced in May; and additional home care packages delivered by nurses and care assistants and enhanced subventions have facilitated the discharge of 262 and 94 patients respectively in the Dublin area.

A HSE steering group was established in July 2005 to tackle the issue of delayed discharges in the Dublin hospitals. A number of additional initiatives have been implemented by the group. A total of 365 patients in public long-stay facilities have been transferred to private nursing homes pending the re-opening of 65 public long-stay beds closed in nursing facilities on the south side of Dublin. A total of 41 beds have re-opened in homes, including Leopardstown Park Hospital, St. Colman's Hospital and St. Brigid's, and the HSE is working towards opening the remainder of the beds as soon as possible. The HSE has confirmed no acute beds are closed owing to lack of funding. Patients in St. Mary's in the Phoenix Park were identified in consultation with clinicians and families for transfer to private nursing homes.

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