Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I do not expect the Minister to announce the budget in the House, although he may announce it or his efforts to secure adequate funding elsewhere from time to time. What we need in terms of policy is a stated commitment to ensure we will examine the issue in the acute hospital setting and the fact that we have up to 700 patients in beds on any one night who should be elsewhere. That is not only bad for hospitals but for patients also. They should be in step-down facilities or home care settings.

What we have seen in terms of prioritising from the special delivery unit in recent times amounts to fire brigade action to address the difficulties. What we need is a sustained policy of funding home care packages to bolster the associated social and clinical supports and step-down facilities. This should be a priority. Otherwise we will be back here next year talking about an increase in the numbers on outpatient waiting lists and waiting as day cases. We need a sustained and coherent strategy covering several years.

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