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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation

Hospital discharge for young man

Summary

Deputy Cahill raised a 29-year-old man left in University Hospital Cork for 14 weeks after being deemed fit for discharge to rehabilitation. The Minister of State said she would take the details to the Minister and follow up.

Deputies

Hear, hear.

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I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

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I want to raise the issue of a young man in my constituency. I previously raised it on Tuesday last. This 29 year old man has been suffering serious health issues since 2015. He lost his sight in 2016 and then suffered from a tumour in August of last year. He has been in University Hospital Cork permanently since December. Some 14 weeks ago, he was told that he was fit for discharge to move to the next stage of his recovery in residential rehabilitation services. Unfortunately, no place has been found for him in the intervening period. We are told that the budget is in place from the HSE to do it. The 12-month cost of his package is €153,000. I estimate that the cost of his stay since he was deemed fit for discharge is €120,000 for Cork University Hospital.

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Pat the Cope Gallagher An Leas-Cheann Comhairle Fianna Fáil

We have got the gist of it.

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This is a serious waste of HSE funds. Notwithstanding the young man's ill health, for the HSE to refuse to find him a place in a residential rehabilitation service and to leave him sitting in hospital for 14 weeks is-----

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Pat the Cope Gallagher An Leas-Cheann Comhairle Fianna Fáil

I thank the Deputy. There is no Minister from the Department of Health present. I apologise. The Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, is here.

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Catherine Byrne Minister of State at the Department of Health Fine Gael

I have noted what Deputy Cahill said. I do not have a specific response for him but I will come back to him after I speak to the Minister. Deputy Cahill might speak to me after this in order that I can get more details.

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