Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is difficult to digest the figures the Minister of State has given. Presumably I will get a copy of all those figures. I will bring those figures down to a personal level. I do not like bringing stories into the Dáil Chamber but I have to do it to illustrate. The Minister of State is talking in general figures and increases. Currently in Galway there is a patient who is not unique - I will not say whether the person is male or female - who cannot be discharged because the recommended number of hours cannot be given. How can the Minister of State stand over that, given the cost of keeping someone in hospital, at a conservative estimate, is €1,300 and in a nursing home is €800 to €1,200? Home care is the cheapest, most effective and best way on a human level. How can the Minister of State stand over a situation where somebody cannot be discharged and the public health nurse has been given the terrible role of reducing the number of hours? Is the Minister of State standing over that type of system?

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