Portiuncula discharge nursing posts
Deputy Naughten said the winter initiative would fail in Portiuncula Hospital unless vacant public health nurse posts were filled so patients could be discharged. The Minister said he would follow up with the HSE and raise the Deputy's concerns directly with the HSE chief executive.
Given that it is Thursday and that there are only two Deputies remaining, we will take their questions.
Comment on this
The winter initiative is being launched today but there is a specific problem in Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe. Two thirds of the public health nurse posts in the community are vacant. Oncology and chemotherapy patients in the hospital cannot be discharged because of the embargo and the shortage of public health nurses.
Will the Minister intervene directly to address this issue? There is no point in investing in a hospital if patients cannot be discharged back into the community because of the lack of community nurses.
Comment on this
I thank Deputy Naughten for inviting me to visit Portiuncula Hospital recently. It is really excellent and I enjoyed my visit to it. Yes, I will follow up on the matter with the HSE. At the core of the winter plan is the idea of having patients discharged from hospital back into the community. I will raise the Deputy's concerns directly with the CEO of the HSE.