Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

752. To ask the Minister for Health the number of patients currently medically discharged, but without any suitable residential unit to go to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30537/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Delayed discharges arise when a patient has been judged clinically to no longer have a requirement for acute hospital care but remains in an acute hospital bed, thus rendering that bed unavailable for patients who need admission. As of 15 September (latest figures available) there are 586 delayed discharges nationally, of which 308 are in the Dublin Academic Teaching Hospitals. Delayed discharges can arise for a number of reasons in addition to difficulties in finding a suitable nursing home place. For example, some patients have yet to apply for the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, and others are in the course of having their applications assessed and validated. Applicants are entitled to choose their own nursing home and while a facility may be available, the applicant may decide to wait for an option closer to home or to their family.

The Government committed an additional €25m in Budget 2015 to address delayed discharges. Of this:

- €10m was allocated to the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) to provide additional 300 places;

- €8m was allocated for the provision of 50 additional short-stay beds, in addition to the establishment of Mount Carmel as a short-stay facility for the Dublin area;

- €5m was allocated for an additional 400 Home Care Packages;

- €2m was allocated to strengthen community care teams.

In a further initiative earlier this year, the Government approved additional funding of €74m, of which €44m was allocated to the NHSS to provide an additional 1,600 places. €30m was used to provide additional transitional care beds (temporary contract beds) through June and additional community, convalescence and district hospital beds on a permanent basis.

The waiting time for approved applicants for the Nursing Homes Support Scheme has been reduced from a previous high of 17 weeks to 2 - 4 weeks. It is intended to maintain this at a maximum of 4 weeks.