Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The numbers of people on trolleys throughout the country is vast. In University Hospital Kerry the situation is no different. Often, when elderly people are well enough to leave hospital they are told that they should access the fair deal scheme and go into a nursing home. Many elderly people are reluctant to do this because they believe the next step is the graveyard. They see it as the departure lounge.

We could do far better for these elderly people if more public health nurses were provided and if more home help was provided to look after these people in their own homes. Many of them would prefer that. However, they are only able to get home help for five days.

That is not good enough because they are sick and need attention seven days a week, including on bank holidays and other holidays. I appeal to the Taoiseach, the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, and the Ministers of State at his Department to do something about this issue. It is creating a logjam in hospitals.

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