Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 68: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of delayed discharge patients in hospitals at the end of 2009 as compared to the end of 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6751/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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Information received from the Health Service Executive indicates that the number of patients whose discharge was delayed at the end of 2007 was 611 and at the end of 2009 it was 733. The National Code of Practice for Integrated Discharge Planning which was introduced last year, will be accompanied by significant changes to internal hospitals processes, work practices and behaviours. Those changes will involve the role of nursing in supporting more efficient processes at ward and overall bed management level and improving patient flow in, through and out of the hospital system. The Code also requires changes in clinical practice in terms of ward rounds, 7 day discharging, delegation of duties e.g. discharging, improving access to senior clinicians, improved tracking and follow up of tests and procedures and improving communication-between teams and with patients. In addition, I have asked the HSE to streamline the administrative process for dealing with applications under the Fair Deal so that patients' discharge to a suitable long-stay facility is not delayed unnecessarily.