Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Daly for raising this very important issue, and of course I share his concerns about this particular issue. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly. Residential care is provided through a mix of public, voluntary and private provision. It is worth highlighting that the net budget for long-term residential care in 2019 is €985 million, and more than 33,000 clients on average at any one time will be in receipt of financial support. Over the last two years, an additional €45 million has been provided to the nursing homes support scheme, NHSS, budget. In 2020, the NHSS will see a further investment into its budget of €45 million, bringing the total annual budget for the NHSS to €1.03 billion.

Public residential care units such as Kenmare Community Hospital, County Kerry, are an essential part of our healthcare infrastructure. In total they provide about 5,000 long-stay beds, amounting to 20% of the total stock of nursing home beds nationally. There are also about 2,000 short-stay community public beds.

The Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of health and personal social care services, including the Kenmare Community Hospital. HSE community healthcare organisation, CHO, 4, which includes County Kerry, is committed to delivering services for older persons through a community-based approach that is supporting older people to live in their own homes and communities and when needed in residential care, such as Kenmare Community Hospital.

Currently, there are 19 beds open at Kenmare Community Hospital with the potential to open up another further 21 in the future. While the HSE had planned to open a number of additional beds at the community hospital on a phased basis, it has unfortunately faced challenges in recruiting the extra nurses needed. The existing nursing staff complement for the 19 existing beds is 8.66 nursing whole-time equivalents along with 7.86 healthcare assistants. However, in order to open an additional nine beds, a further 5.11 nurses, whole-time equivalents, WTEs, are required, so another five nurses are required to open the nine beds.

I have been assured that the increasing capacity of Kenmare Community Hospital remains a priority for the HSE and that it is continuing to make intensive efforts to recruit nursing staff. I am also informed that the executive has run three recruitment campaigns in the last year alone, the most recent recruitment campaign being in September 2019, when every effort was made to recruit the necessary staff. Unfortunately, no suitable candidates were recruited at that time. The HSE fully understands the importance of Kenmare Community Hospital to the local community and appreciates the excellent care provided by the staff there.

I note that the recent inspection report published earlier this year by the Health Information and Quality Authority acknowledged that the centre was warm, bright and comfortable and met the needs of the residents, so we have great confidence in the hospital. In general, the inspector observed that the care and support given to residents was respectful, relaxed and unhurried. Staff were familiar with the residents' preferences and choices and facilitated these in a friendly and respectful manner.

The local HSE management has assured the Department of Health that it will continue to work to extend the services in Kenmare. The HSE has informed the Department that the hospital has an excellent reputation locally as a care facility and that the welfare of its residence is a priority for staff and management and that they are deeply appreciative of the support the hospital receives from the families in the wider community.

In line with the usual process, the HSE will continue to review all of its services to ensure the continued provision of high quality, value-for-money residential care with the older person at the centre of all decisions made. I will bring the Senator's genuine concerns back to the Minister of State, Deputy Daly.