No engagement with Nursing Homes on trolley crisis, says NHI
Friday November 29, 2019Nursing Homes Ireland today, 29th November, called upon Government to ensure HSE engagement with the nursing home sector is undertaken on a constant basis to alleviate overcrowding within acute hospitals. Tadhg Daly, NHI CEO said: “Our Members are informing of bed availability across the country and have previously denounced fractured and inconsistent engagement with local hospitals. We have had no engagement this week with the HSE even though trolley numbers are at record levels for the year.”
“For our health service to operate efficiently over the Winter period, it is critical hospitals are engaging with local nursing homes effectively on a daily basis to ensure timely discharge of older people back into the community. Around two-thirds of the hundreds of people awaiting discharge in our acute hospitals require nursing home care. Government and HSE must recognise over 400 private and voluntary nursing homes are positioned within our communities to provide not just specialist long-stay care, but also respite, rehabilitative and transitionary care. Their capacity to meet healthcare needs must be maximised.”
NHI CEO Tadhg Daly is available for further interview. Contact Michael McGlynn, NHI Communications & Research Executive at 01 4699806 or 087 9082970.