John Whelan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Phil Hogan, for coming at this late hour to take this Adjournment matter. There is a sense of déjà vu here in that I asked a similar question, with the tolerance of the Chair, on 24 April. I hope the Minister has some good news to convey tonight, as opposed to his having merely been handed a hospital pass, so to speak, in deputising for the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly.

I am seeking a commitment from the Government to the community nursing home sector, which is vital to ensure a balanced provision of care for our elderly citizens. The private nursing home sector, while it does provide an important service, cannot meet the demand arising out of a growing population of ageing citizens. Moreover, the private sector cannot cater for elderly people who require more extensive care, such as those suffering from dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

I was assured last April that a decision would be announced "shortly" and "soon" in terms of a future commitment by the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive to community nursing homes, including the Abbeyleix and Shaen facilities in County Laois. The latter is the only unit within the entire region which caters for high-dependency patients. The Minister will understand that, at this stage, patience is wearing thin among people in Laois. The initial announcement by the HSE to close the Abbeyleix and Shaen community nursing homes was made two years ago this week. To be fair, the Minister for Health did intervene and ask the HSE to review the decision and compile a report. That report was furnished a year later. Twelve months later, we are still anxiously awaiting a commitment from the Department of Health and the HSE to retain both Abbeyleix and Shaen. These particular facilities are typical of community nursing homes throughout the country, all of which are absolutely vital to ensuring that elderly citizens in need of residential care in the autumn of their years are cared for properly.

It is an absurd situation that only 16 patients remain in Abbeyleix community nursing home even though it has the capacity and scope to cater for up to 50. That makes no economic sense. I do not understand the HSE's strategy in this matter; nor do I support its policy in seeking to drive people into private nursing homes. It is not an acceptable position. Community tolerance is wearing thin after two years of waiting for a decision, which is understandable. It is high time we received a commitment, in no uncertain terms, to the community nursing home sector. These facilities provide a level of care and service that is central to our strategy of caring for citizens in the autumn of their years. I hope the Department of Health will finally bring this matter to an end and close off the uncertainty that has prevailed for two years. There is a vibrant role within the overall strategy of health care, in the midlands and throughout the country, for community nursing homes like Abbeyleix and Shaen.