Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Burke for raising this important matter. I acknowledge the vital healthcare role Sacred Heart Hospital plays and the excellent level of care and support it provides to residents and their families in the Castlebar community and surrounding areas.

The Sacred Heart Hospital in Castlebar is registered with HIQA for the provision of 74 long-term beds. The hospital also has 26 rehabilitation beds. These beds offer an extremely important service as we seek to maximise the functional capacity of older people so that they can return home following a stay in an acute hospital. Sacred Heart Hospital also provides a respite bed to allow family carers in the community a welcome break. This bed is currently occupied. This bed offers additional assistance to families and carers in Castlebar to help alleviate the ongoing stress associated with providing care.

The are currently a total of 37 respite beds in HSE Community Healthcare West, of which 14 are available in County Mayo. I advise the Senator that increasing the respite bed numbers in Sacred Heart Hospital would require a reduction in the number of long-stay or rehabilitation beds in the facility. Unfortunately, the HSE has advised that this is not currently an option as the demand for these other beds, that is, the long-stay beds and the rehabilitation beds, is too high. The HSE has assured me that if any emergency respite applications are made in Castlebar, every effort will be made to accommodate the person in either the Sacred Heart Hospital or the closest available bed in the county. The HSE will also review the provision of respite beds in County Mayo with a view to exploring the option of providing an additional respite bed in Westport, which is the closest location to Castlebar.

As for other query the Senator raised, which is a matter for the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, as the Acting Chairperson said, my understanding is that this has come up several times previously. Anyone in receipt of a State payment cannot receive two full State payments.It is my understanding the people will get half the carer's allowance if they are drawing down the contributory or non-contributory pensions. I compliment the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, on the work she has done recently in relation to carers and making sure they are eligible for their own pensions. I know the Senator welcomes that and it is really important.

Regarding the Sacred Heart Hospital in Castlebar, bed management comes under the remit of the HSE. There are 74 long-term-care beds. These would be for people on the fair deal scheme. The hospital also has 26 rehabilitation beds. These are very important for people who leave an acute hospital setting and who need rehabilitation before they are able to go back to their communities. The hospital also has one carer's bed specifically for carers. I have been told there is not currently an option to reduce the number of long-stay beds to put in a second respite bed. However, I welcome the fact the provision of respite beds is being reviewed in County Mayo at the moment.