Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 880: To ask the Minister for Health if he has carried out any research or intends to carry out any research into the impact of increased numbers of patients presenting themselves in public hospitals as a result of private patients giving up their private health insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26554/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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My Department has no plans to carry out research into the impact of patients presenting in public hospitals who previously held private health insurance. In respect of access to public hospitals, the work of the Special Delivery Unit is focussed on improving wait times for access to both scheduled and unscheduled treatments and to maximise the capacity of existing facilities to manage patient flow.

While there has been a decrease in the numbers with private health insurance, by 76,000 in the year to end-March 2012, it is important to note that the decline in private health insurance coverage is modest to-date, at less than 4% of the overall market. This leaves some 2.139 million, or 46.6% of the population, covered by private health insurance. Even in the current difficult financial climate, the vast majority of consumers with private health insurance are retaining some level of health insurance cover. In this context, I would strongly advise consumers to shop around for the health insurance plan that best suits their needs. Consumers have a legal right to switch between or within insurers to get better value and to reduce their premium costs. All customers should carefully consider the full range of plans and levels of cover available within the market, so that their own needs are fully met. Where customers wish to switch products, the relevant health insurance legislation ensures that switching is as easy and seamless as possible for customers.

In addition to the choices available to consumers in the health insurance market, the Government's clear objective is for the health insurance market to remain as competitive and affordable as possible, as we move towards a new system of Universal Health Insurance.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 881: To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of bed days lost through delayed discharges in each hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26561/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The HSE Business Information Unit centrally collates statistics on delayed discharges. These statistics are a representation of the percentage of beds days lost with respect to the total number of available bed days, due to their occupancy by patients who have been deemed as being medically fit for discharge home with additional support, or awaiting transfer to rehabilitation off site, or a non-acute residential care setting. The figures indicated will not necessarily reflect those patients who may have been assessed for suitability for a nursing home place.

Many of the SDU initiatives to date have been targeted at the patients remaining in acute beds post medical discharge and these have involved increased access to home supports and transitional care. A specific project aimed at improving the quality of care delivery to the frail older person is being finalised and a group will be set up to oversee implementation of this national initiative on care of the frail older person. The project aim is to support the frail older person at home, create direct access pathways in the acute setting, rehabilitation and transitional care settings.

The year to date figures for bed days lost due to delayed discharges at 14th May 2012 are detailed in the attached table.