Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 81: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if contracts have been signed for the provision of 500 short-term nursing home beds for patients who no longer need acute care; the location of these beds; when they will become available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15319/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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A tendering process has been completed to procure nursing home beds from the private sector to meet the needs of 500 people annually for intermediate care of up to six weeks. A total of 90 beds have been procured nationally to allow an annual throughput of 500 patients. My Department understands that the successful applicants have been notified by the Health Service Executive.

Some 64 patients from hospitals in the eastern region and 23 patients in the Cork region have already been discharged as a result of the intermediate beds being available. My Department does not have details of the exact location of the 90 intermediate care beds at this time. Accordingly, my Department has requested the chief officer of the Health Service Executive to provide this information directly to the Deputy.