The organisation Nursing Homes Ireland is urging close, ongoing engagement between the government and nursing homes to help alleviate overcrowding within the acute hospital network.
A survey undertaken by NHI in the lead-up to Christmas was informed of around 1,400 beds being available within private and voluntary nursing homes in communities across Ireland.
183 nursing homes participated in the survey, informing of 610 beds being available to meet not just long-term but also short-term, respite, rehabilitative, and transitional care requirements of persons being discharged from hospitals.
Replicated across the 430 private and voluntary nursing homes operating across the country, this would entail over 1,400 beds being available according to the group.
The chief executive officer of Nursing Homes Ireland, Tadhg Daly, has said today that: “It is essential the capacity of nursing homes within the community is fully realised to facilitate timely discharges from our acute hospitals.”
“Nursing homes are primarily positioned to support the HSE in addressing the high numbers of persons delayed discharged within our hospitals. Beds are available across the country, with teams of specialist personnel positioned to provide 24/7 care on a transitional or long-stay basis.”
Meanwhile yesterday the NHI called upon Minister for Health Simon Harris to ensure capacity within the private and voluntary nursing home sector is considered within the bed-capacity review being undertaken by his Department to assess health capacity requirements to 2031.
Over the weekend, Minister Harris stated thousands of more beds will be required across our acute and community health providers.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation says there are 656 people on hospital trolleys across the country – a new record high.
St Luke’s Hospital in Kilkenny is the worst affected with 57 people waiting on a bed – followed by University Hospital Limerick on 55.
