Seanad debates

Wednesday, 24 June 2009

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages

 

12:00 pm

Photo of Phil PrendergastPhil Prendergast (Labour)

I support Senator McFadden's statement. Many people in nursing homes have great difficulty in accessing physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and many of the other therapies necessary for them to continue in the best possible health. A multidisciplinary team should be decided by the geriatrician and a psychiatrist with a special interest in older people as there are many disorders which affect people's mental health in later years that can be easily sorted out if they are seen by a psychiatrist with a special interest in older people. As the spokesperson on older people for my party, I would like to see a comprehensive set of proposals in place with this Bill which is an utter departure from anything we have had before.

I will speak on sections 40 and 41 when they come up for discussion. However, as this Bill has already been through the Dáil, I would be concerned that very valid contributions made by people on both sides of the House have not been taken on board. A Bill such as this will affect everyone's future, so we should do everything to the best of our ability at this time.

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