According to the INMO there are 534 patients on trolleys in hospitals throughout the county. We have learned that, up until October of this year, in excess of 13,500 people over 75 years had spent more than 24 hours waiting to access a bed.

Yesterday, some of my Oireachtas colleagues and I visited the University Hospital Waterford. We were informed by the manager that the hospital has 21 late discharges. These are people who are in acute hospital beds and who need timely discharges but, unfortunately, they have not been not able to avail of them. Simultaneously, there were 23 people on trolleys in the hospital. This is an issue I have been raising for the past year. Would the Government consider adopting a targeted approach that would look at each CHO and at the people who need timely discharges from care and to be provided with either home care support or access to nursing homes? Some people have very complex needs and it is not as simple as just delivering home care hours. If we look at the number of individuals who are awaiting discharge, however, we will see that it is always in or around 600. The number for those on trolleys is very similar. Adoption of a targeted approach would be a good development.

The Deputy is correct. A lot of what she referred to is being done. She will be aware, on foot of the winter plan published last week, that additional resources are provided for home care, for the fair deal scheme and for aids and appliances. This will enable more people to get home from hospital and more people to be discharged sooner, thus freeing up hospital beds for patients who are acutely ill. As Deputy Butler recognises, there are often complicating factors. Families are allowed a choice of nursing home and this can cause delays. Some patients are wards of court and cannot consent for themselves. Some patients have very complex needs and require an individualised package to be put in place. The Deputy's point is very well made.