Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 58: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if funds will be provided to restructure and extend, if necessary, St. Mary's Hospital, Castleblayney, County Monaghan to ensure that bed spaces are retained in one of the best known nursing homes here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10265/10]

Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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While the Health Service Executive has operational responsibility for the delivery of health and social services, including those at facilities such as St Mary's, I would like to reassure the Deputy that no decision has been taken by the Executive to reduce the existing number of beds in the Hospital at this time.

As the Deputy is aware, the total bed complement in St. Mary's Hospital is currently 141. It had operated with a complement of 144 beds since 2006. However, in September 2009, following the introduction of National Quality Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People in Ireland, the Health Service Executive decided to reduce the number of beds by three to assist with its obligation under HIQA Standard No 25, The Care Environment.

The hospital provides a range of facilities for elderly people including day care, respite, convalescence, rehabilitation, extended care and terminal care. It is a nurse led hospital with a multidisciplinary team approach to care. The team includes Nursing Staff, Non-Nursing Staff, GP Medical Team, Social Worker, Physiotherapy, Chiropodist, Community Liaison Nurse and Occupational Therapy.

There is a National Review of the number of non acute beds required for Older People's Services being carried out by the HSE. This review is intended to establish the number of places required in residential centres for older people and the results will feed into any decision by the HSE concerning the provision of residential services in the Cavan/Monaghan Primary Community and Continuing Care area.