Eugene Regan (Fine Gael)

The issue I am raising is a specific one but it arises in the context of a more general problem in the health service, namely, that hospital beds are being occupied by persons who do not require hospital care but rather nursing care or special assistance. A gentleman whom I will not name who suffers from Parkinson's disease and is confined to a wheelchair has been cared for in an acute surgical ward in St. Columcille's Hospital, Loughlinstown, for some time. The medical advice and the advice of social workers is that it is inappropriate for him to remain thus as there is no specific medical need for him to be in hospital at this juncture. It is intimated that 50% of hospital beds in St. Columcille's Hospital are inappropriately used. In other words, beds are being allocated to people who do not require hospital treatment but instead require some type of home or nursing facility care.

There is a vacancy available for the person in question in the Cheshire Home in Blackrock, which is the type of facility most suited to his condition. However, the problem is that, although this unit can provide all the facilities he requires, funding is needed for a carer or personal assistant. The cost of providing such assistance would be far less than the cost of keeping this person in hospital. The quality of life of the person would be immeasurably enhanced if he were cared for in a residential unit such as that provided at the Cheshire Home rather than in a hospital. Serious costs are being incurred as a result of this individual's occupying a hospital bed. I accept that it is the sympathy attracted by people who find themselves in this position which leads to the overall problem of their being kept in hospital when they should be cared for elsewhere.

A solution could be provided in the case to which I refer by the person in question being offered a place in the Blackrock Cheshire Home. The costs relating thereto would be far less than those incurred by his occupying a public bed in Loughlinstown Hospital. When would funding be made available to employ a carer for this individual if we were given a place in the Blackrock Cheshire Home?