Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank both Deputies for raising this issue. It is important to say at the outset that the overarching policy of the Government is to support older people to live in dignity and independence in their own homes, and most importantly within their own communities, for as long as possible. This is clearly what older people want and only those in genuine need of residential care should go down that route where it is appropriate. Short-term beds, including convalescent, respite and rehabilitation beds, contribute to the provision of an integrated model of care for older people, enabling them to return home following a period of hospital care or postponing admission to long-stay residential care.

The management of resources and service planning is a matter for the HSE in the first instance. Over the past number of years different arrangements have been in place across the country in relation to the provision of convalescent care. Galway University Hospital has operated its own process in this respect for a number of years. In 2014, as part of the local community support to the Hospital and in consultation with both the HSE’s special delivery unit and national services for older people, designated short-stay services to support acute discharges were developed. Between 2014 and 2015, a total of 25 HSE short stay beds were put in place in addition to the 28 step-down beds that are provided in Clifden District Hospital. However, there remained an insufficient geographical cover, particularly for the population of north and west Galway, and a decision was taken, through the local services, to address this issue. Six private beds were commissioned at a cost of €700 per week. Only two nursing homes were prepared to provide three beds at this rate. In late 2016, the HSE decided to formally tender for these beds. Around the same time, at national level, the HSE was provided with additional funding under the winter initiative for 2016-17 to extend transitional care funding services to all acute hospitals. Some €6 million in additional funding was allocated for that. Transitional care beds support patients who have been deemed fit for discharge but may be awaiting a specific bed in a long-term care facility or some degree of convalescence prior to returning home.

As a result of the extension of this national system which would cater for patients’ needs in the area it was decided not to proceed with the local tender in Galway. Patients who require convalescence or who are awaiting funding under the nursing home support scheme can access the national transitional care fund I mentioned earlier when leaving hospital services. While every effort is made to accommodate the patient's choice they can only be placed where there are vacancies and where the nursing homes can cater for their needs and agree to their admission. The local arrangements in County Galway will expire when all six patients have vacated those beds in question and, as I have outlined, transitional care funding is now available to all acute hospitals nationally on request.

The HSE has no further plans to tender for this service, and instead the policy is to continue to provide beds under the national system that is currently operating. The aim of the Government is for people to stay in their own homes, in their own communities, and to retain their independence for as long as possible. Home care services are critical in this regard, and I remind Deputies that a public consultation will be launching this month concerning the development of the home care scheme, which will provide older people with certainty, but most importantly choice.

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