Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

I agree it is important that acute beds are released for acute cases. As Deputy Reilly mentioned, before Christmas provision was made to allow patients to be discharged from the National Rehabilitation Hospital. I agree that stroke units have a better outcome in the immediate situation. Obviously, rehabilitation is a different and complex area and, as such, the development of rehabilitative beds, be they acute, semi-acute or step-down, is a vital component of our infrastructure.

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