Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Unfortunately, the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, who has responsibility for mental health and older people, cannot be here so I am taking this matter on behalf of him. I thank Deputies Jack Chambers and Coppinger for raising the issue.

Social care services, including home care, daycare and short-stay residential care are all important components in enabling people to remain living at home and participating in their own communities. They also provide valuable supports to carers. The Government is committed to supporting people to live in dignity and independence in their own homes and communities for as long as possible.

Where that is not feasible, the health service supports access to long-term residential care, where appropriate, and we will continue to develop and improve health services in all regions of the country to ensure quality and patient safety. There is an obvious need to provide high quality and flexible services that not only best meets the needs of individual clients, but also reduces pressures elsewhere on the wider health system such as acute hospitals or on long-term residential care.

Public nursing units provide 5,000 long-stay residential care beds nationally. There are also approximately 2,000 short-stay community public beds providing a combination of step-up and step-down care, intermediate care, rehabilitation and respite care. 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 or postponing admission to long-stay residential care.

The Health Service Executive has operational responsibility for the delivery of health and social services, including those at facilities such as St. Mary's Hospital in the Phoenix Park. The hospital provides 150 long-term residential beds, located across two modern, purpose-built units, and registered with the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA. That is the maximum number allowable under HIQA registration conditions.

The hospital also has 75 sub-acute beds or short-stay beds, located separately in the main hospital building, dating from the 18th century. They include ten specialist stroke rehabilitation beds, 22 rehabilitation beds to support step-down from acute hospital, 20 transitional care, eight respite and 15 community response beds.

Following a recent health and safety assessment, issues have arisen regarding flooring and electrical works in one of the wards. To comply with legislative requirements, and in the best interests of patients and safety, the HSE needs to close the ward on a phased basis with effect from I July 2019. There will be some reduction in access to transitional care beds from acute settings, however, all patients will remain in the hospital until their current care is completed. The Department has also been assured that all commitments for booked respite care will be honoured and plans are being put in place to that effect. Staff were advised of this decision through their line management structure and they will be reassigned within the hospital.

The HSE has advised the Department that significant capital is required to address the health and safety issues and the HSE is developing a capital project plan to address the risks identified in this old building. The HSE has a clear responsibility to deliver services ensuring that the highest standard of care continues to be provided to all patients in a safe and secure environment.

The primary focus must be on the patient. Engagement with patients, their families, staff, union representatives and other relevant stakeholders is ongoing to ensure there is minimal impact on all concerned during the closure of the ward.

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