Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 230: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the plans in place to maintain beds in a public nursing home (details supplied) in County Carlow; if she will ensure it is kept open to serve the needs of people who need long-term care in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5859/09]

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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The Health Service Executive has operational responsibility for the delivery of health and social services, including those at facilities such as Bethany House.

Bethany House is a Welfare Home which opened in the 1970's. It is currently operating as a 30 bed unit, of which 28 beds are residential and 2 are respite. At present there are 25 long stay residents, with one long stay admission to the facility in the last six months.

The HSE commissioned a review of elderly services within the Carlow/Kilkenny region in 2006, which included Bethany House. The review was conducted in 2007. The report was received by the HSE in early 2008. Following consultation with the General Hospital Manager and Director of Nursing a decision was made on Tuesday 13th Jan 2009 by the Local Health Manager to relocate residents from Bethany House to alternative accommodation. This decision was put forward to the Assistant National Director of Primary Care and Continuing Services HSE South, who approved same as part of 2009 HSE South Service Plan.

On the 15th January last the Executive announced the Service Plan for the Local Health Offices and Hospitals in the Southern area at the Regional Health Forum. The Plan identified a Programme to address infrastructural deficits to meet new national standards for residential care facilities for older people. These standards provide the basis for the very best quality of care to be provided, monitored and enforced in all nursing homes. They will be an objective and transparent way for both care providers and inspectors to implement and enforce standards of care for nursing home residents and they will apply to both the public and private sector. The Executive is working on a phased programme of refurbishment and replacement of existing public homes, where necessary to meet the proposed standards.

The Executive advised the Forum that the 30 bed Bethany House Welfare Home is no longer able to provide appropriate services due to the increasing levels of dependencies of its patients.

The independent review highlighted the lack of facilities to provide appropriate care and the home's inability to support high dependency patients. This inadequacy increases demands in terms of maintenance, standards and health and safety issues including infection control.

The HSE decided it was necessary to discontinue admitting patients to the home and to arrange for the current residents to be accommodated in facilities more appropriate to their needs.

All 25 residents, will be relocated to better and safer facilities that are purpose built to cater for their health and well-being. The Executive will consult with each resident, their families or representatives, to explain what options are available with a view to agreeing their preferences for relocation.

The safety and well-being of older people living in nursing homes is of critical concern. Quality care and patient safety comes first and all patients should receive the same high standard of quality-assured care. Bethany house will continue to be used as a health care facility and preliminary discussions have commenced with the Alzheimer's Society with a view to day care services being provided from the facility.