Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

I thank Senator O'Keeffe for raising this important issue. It provides me with an opportunity to update the House on this matter on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, who is indisposed, and outline the background to the current situation and the action taken by the Health Service Executive. As the Senator is aware, Government policy on older people is to support 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 quality long-term residential care where it is appropriate, and we continue to develop and improve health services in all regions of the country and ensure quality and patient safety.

The Health Service Executive has sole operational responsibility for the delivery of health and social services, including those at facilities such as St. John's Community Hospital, Sligo. St John's Hospital is a single-storey building which was first established in 1971. There are 165 beds at the hospital providing long-term residential care, rehabilitation, convalescence, respite and palliative care. Other facilities include an active day hospital with physiotherapy and occupational therapy, and speech and language services are provided also. In April 2011, the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, noted that "the physical environment did not comply with the regulations and standards". HIQA further noted that "the residents' personal and communal space was not designed and laid out in a manner to ensure their safety, encourage and aid their independence and assure their comfort and privacy". In this context, the HSE had to review the maximum number of residents that could be accommodated to ensure the accommodation would suitably meet the individual needs of residents. In addition, the HSE needs to address fire safety issues at the hospital. On foot of the HIQA report the HSE temporarily closed Cairde Ward on 9 October 2011. A total of 24 residents were moved to other wards and staff were redeployed within the hospital. In an effort to address the fire safety issues and the challenges with the physical environment at St. John's, the HSE is considering its options regarding reconfiguration of Cairde Ward.

Residents and relatives have been and will continue to be fully consulted throughout that process. I am sure everyone in the House will agree that the safety and well-being of older people is of critical concern. Quality care and patient safety comes first, and all patients should receive the same high standard of quality-assured care.

From a national perspective, I advise the Senator that the Department of Health is reviewing the provision of public residential care in the light of the need to meet national standards and regulations, local demographic pressures and public and private provision. The review will serve as a platform for discussion and will inform the development of an overall strategy on how the HSE should continue to provide this service in future in view of current budgetary and other pressures. The review must also be seen in the light of the wider health reform programme to which the Government is committed, and the position of social care services in a future health service. It is a matter for the HSE to deliver services nationally and locally within its budget and overall health policy priorities in line with the overall resources available to it. The Executive will continue to work closely with the Department of Health in that context.