Colm Burke (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State and welcome her to the House. This matter relates to a patient who has been in St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, since January 2016. The advice from the medical people in May 2016 was that the appropriate facility would be Bloomfield Hospital. Bloomfield carried out an assessment and found he was a suitable patient. Since then, no decision has been taken regarding the transfer. When I communicated with the HSE, its attitude was the matter was not under its jurisdiction. I contacted St. Vincent's by telephone and correspondence and failed to receive a definitive answer as to how the issue will be resolved. The family is extremely concerned given they have been left with nothing in writing setting out exactly what will happen. This is the first time in six years that I have had to put such a matter to the Minister by way of a Commencement matter. I hope it is my last time. No family should be left waiting in this manner. This is why I am seeking the clarification.

Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Senator for raising the issue. The Senator is referring to an individual who is an inpatient at St. Vincent’s University Hospital. The patient has finished his acute phase of treatment and is on the hospital’s delayed discharge list as requiring long-term residential care. Government policy is to support older people to remain in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. There will, however, always be a cohort of older people who require a long-term residential care option.

The nursing homes support scheme is a system of financial support for those assessed as needing long-term nursing home care. Anyone who is assessed as needing long-term nursing home care can avail of the scheme regardless of their age. The scheme provides financial support towards the cost of the standard components of nursing home care. Patients contribute to the cost of their care according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost. The scheme aims to ensure that long-term nursing home care is accessible and affordable for everyone and that people are cared for in the most appropriate settings.

The scheme has a net budget in 2016 of €940 million. This represents an increase of €43.1 million on the 2015 outturn. It is expected that the scheme will provide financial support to 22,989 clients on average per week in 2016. The purpose of the nursing homes support scheme is to provide a sustainable system of financial support for people in need of long-term nursing home care, which ensures such care is affordable for all who need it. Applicants are free to choose any public, voluntary or approved private nursing home in the State. The home must have availability and be able to cater for the applicant's particular needs.

On the Senator's specific query, Bloomfield Hospital is a 114-bed mental health hospital registered as an approved centre with the Mental Health Commission. The nursing homes support scheme, however, does not extend to either the disability or mental health sectors and it would contravene the statute underpinning the scheme to support a patient in this facility. The HSE is endeavouring to support the discharge of patients who have been deemed medically fit for discharge and require alternative supports, be that long-term care, home care or transitional care. The HSE has provided a list of alternative facilities that accept national nursing home scheme funding. The man was offered a place in Rathdrum public unit but it is understood this offer was not accepted. The HSE is working with the hospital social work team to find a suitable placement and the Clonskeagh community nursing unit is being considered as it has appropriate single-room accommodation and would be more accessible for the family. I hope this is the answer the Senator seeks.

Colm Burke (Fine Gael)
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The Minister of State's answer is totally unsatisfactory. The information she gave in the last part of her answer is new to me and the family. In May, the medical team in St. Vincent's identified that Bloomfield Hospital was the appropriate place. Nothing since then has been given in writing although the family has written to the CEO of St. Vincent's. I have written to the CEO of St. Vincent's and have spoken to Mary McGrath, the person who deals with patient complaints. We have received nothing in writing from anybody. The answer is not adequate and I need something in writing. The person was deemed unsuitable for a nursing home facility. This was the advice the family received in May 2016 and nothing further has been given to them in writing since then. The family has been left in mid-air on the matter for the past four to five months and nobody is putting anything in writing. This is the first we have seen of this position being offered and the first time the Clonskeagh facility has been mentioned. I do not understand why something cannot be set down in writing on what is the appropriate way to deal with the matter. While the family is supportive of St. Vincent's and whatever decision is made, nothing has been put in writing as regards best management and this is why we are concerned.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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Can the Minister of State add anything? I know she is probably in a straitjacket.

Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I understand the frustration on the part of the Senator and the family. It was not a waste of time for him to raise it given that we have new information. I find it surprising that nobody has received anything in writing and that this is news to the Senator and the family. When I return to my office I will contact the relevant section and ensure there is some form of written communication, in all fairness to the family and the Senator. I thank the Senator and I hope there will be a satisfactory outcome.

Colm Burke (Fine Gael)
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I received a letter from the HSE to the effect that it was not the HSE's problem and that I should deal with St. Vincent's. I wrote to St. Vincent's and received no reply. This is not a way to deal with something that has been going on for four months. The HSE told me it did not know who it should contact in St. Vincent's hospital. It is unacceptable.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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I do not think the Minister of State can resolve it today. Maybe, privately she could take it up and see what can be done. While I understand the Senator's frustration, we have spent as much time as possible on it.

Colm Burke (Fine Gael)
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Thank you.

Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh is next. He will be brief, as usual, and reasonable.