NHI statement re hospital overcrowding
Tuesday April 9, 2019Nursing Homes Ireland today states engagement between hospital management and nursing homes is critical to alleviate overcrowding. NHI states hospitals cannot operate in silo and must utilise specialist healthcare within the community that can lead in alleviating pressures.
Analysis undertaken by NHI regarding capacity within private and voluntary nursing homes the first quarter of 2019 informs over 1,000 beds are consistently available in nursing homes across the country to alleviate overcrowding. NHI’s monthly information surveys, informed by 100+ private and voluntary nursing homes every month, inform the average bed availability per nursing home the first quarter of 2019 was 3.6 beds. There are over 400 such nursing homes within our communities across the country.
Tadhg Daly, NHI CEO stated:
Nursing homes consistently advance to NHI the communication with hospitals with regard to facilitating discharges must be undertaken on a more consistent and better structured basis. The HSE consistently informs two-thirds of the hundreds of people in our hospitals awaiting discharge require long-term nursing care. At any given time, there are approximately 500 people in our hospitals awaiting discharge. Nursing homes are specialist healthcare settings within our communities that fulfil an essential role in meeting peoples rehab, respite and long-term healthcare needs. Nurses and carers are employed within to deliver person-centred, specialist healthcare. The personnel responsible for the discharge of patients in our acute hospitals must be in continuous contact with local nursing homes with view to facilitating the timely transfer of patients back into the community to continue their healthcare recovery. In tandem, it is imperative patients awaiting or approaching discharge are engaged with regard to having the next step in their healthcare recovery facilitated in the community.
Tadhg Daly, NHI CEO is available for further interview. Contact Michael McGlynn, NHI Communications & Research Executive at 01 4699806 or 087 9082970.