Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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Question 384: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the outcome of his recent visit to Clonakilty Community Hospital, County Cork; and the direction he gave to Health Service Executive officials in terms of finding alternative considerations to the planned closure of beds at this hospital. [10486/11]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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During a recent visit to the region my colleague, Minister Reilly, took the opportunity to visit Clonakilty Community Hospital, to inform himself on the range of services provided at the hospital, the rationale for the reduction in long stay beds at the hospital and the potential impact of this decision. During the visit the Minister was informed of the developments which have taken place in Clonakilty Community Hospital in recent years. These include: the development of a Dementia Unit; the refurbishment of inpatient accommodation to provide an improved living environment; and designation of beds to provide respite, palliative care and community support. During the visit the background to the decision to reduce the number of residential beds at the hospital was outlined in detail. This included: nationally agreed model of care for provision of health services to older people, with emphasis on supporting older people to live at home; national and local analysis of requirements for residential care for older people; the requirements to meet HIQA standards including those relating to the environment; the impact of the Public Sector Recruitment Moratorium and the need to ensure that the remaining staffing resources are targeted to meet prioritised needs; and the impact of the Nursing Home Support Scheme (Fair Deal) on the demand for places in public units.

The HSE set out the reasoning behind the approach taken along with the need to address the issue of ward accommodation at the hospital where there are a number of wards with a large number of beds. The Minister asked that the HSE examine the potential to rearrange beds and services at the hospital in order to determine whether it would be possible to retain some of the 16 beds earmarked for closure for a period of time.

The Department is currently considering the future of HSE Provision of Residential Care for Older People. This review will consider the position of all HSE residential facilities for Older People in terms of meeting the National Standards and Regulations. It will also consider local demographic pressures and the extent of existing public and private provision, with a view to developing an overall strategy on how the Executive should continue to provide this service in view of current budgetary and other pressures. Any plans that the Executive may have to close or withdraw residential care beds is suspended until the Minister has had an opportunity to consider the findings of the review.

I should make it clear, however, that, providing quality and safe care for our long stay residents will have to remain at the heart of these considerations.