Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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2281. To ask the Minister for Health if his office was contacted by management of nursing homes during the pandemic that expressed concerns regarding the process of discharging patients from hospitals into nursing homes in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic; if so, if such correspondence can be released; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37225/21]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an unprecedented challenge across our health services and none more so than in our nursing homes. The pandemic has been a hugely difficult time for all residents, relatives, and staff of nursing homes.

Nursing homes are a key provider of care to older people in Ireland and are where over 30,000 people reside. Those living in nursing homes are considered vulnerable to COVID-19 due to a variety of factors, including their age, underlying medical conditions, the extent of their requirement for direct care involving close physical contact and the nature of living in congregated settings. As well as this, learning arising from the pandemic to date has highlighted that COVID-19 is more likely to be introduced into residential settings where there are high levels of COVID-19 in the community. This is reflected in international evidence as well as learning identified by the COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel. The most important way to protect our older population, whether living at home or in a long-term residential care (LTRC) setting, has been to reduce the amount of disease present in our community.

In the context of COVID-19, significant supports have been provided to nursing homes by the State during the crisis. The prioritisation of the vaccine rollout to nursing home residents and staff has been a key protective measure. In respect of transfers from hospitals to long-term residential care facilities preliminary guidance with protocols was issued on 10th March 2020 to support such transfers. Throughout the pandemic, a comprehensive suite of infection prevention and control guidance, including in relation to transfers from hospitals, has been developed and regularly reviewed by public health authorities as new evidence and learning arises.

Officials from the Department have been unable to identify records relevant to the Deputy's question. However, there continue IT access issues arising from the cyber security incident and therefore it has not been possible to conduct a definitive search of all possible sources of information at this time.