Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for the delay.

I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue which relates to Abbeyleix hospital. The overarching policy of the Government is to support older people to live in dignity and independence in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. That is what older people clearly want and only those in genuine need of residential care should go down that route. The HSE is responsible for the delivery of health and personal social services, including those in facilities such as Abbeyleix hospital.

Abbeyleix community nursing unit is registered with HIQA to provide care for 20 residents. It comprises 17 short-stay and three long-stay beds. All bedrooms are on the ground floor. In addition, a day service is provided for between 20 and 22 people from Monday to Thursday. The HSE is committed to the long-term future of the Abbeyleix facility which will continue to operate as a community hospital for the area. In that context, a meeting took place in January this year between the HSE and the friends of Abbeyleix hospital committee. At the meeting it was agreed that plans for the future development of services at Abbeyleix would be progressed in conjunction with local community interests. The HSE gave a commitment to the establishment of a project group in quarter 1 of 2018, representative of all stakeholders, to plan for future services at Abbeyleix community nursing unit. The project group has been established and its first meeting is scheduled to take place on 4 May. The HSE will also continue to meet the friends of Abbeyleix hospital committee. While the community nursing unit is not accepting long-stay residents, it is providing respite care services in County Laois and the extended area, in addition to day care, rehabilitation and meals on wheels services.

The HSE's plan for the long-term future of Abbeyleix community nursing unit is to develop a sustainable model of service which will see the unit operate as a community hospital, providing short-stay beds for step-up and step-down from Portlaoise acute hospital, as well as respite and transitional care beds for the area. Short-term 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, thus avoiding admission to acute hospital, or postponing admission to long-stay nursing home care. Both the HSE and I recognise that Abbeyleix community nursing unit is vital for the provision of community-based services that help people to stay in their homes and communities and that assist those who require admission to be discharged as early as possible from acute care back to their home environment.

See this speech in context