ONE of the 97
patients tying up acute beds in Beaumont Hospital has been waiting a shocking
586 days to be discharged.
Figures seen by Northside People and released by the
Health Service Executive (HSE) indicate that the patient has been fit to leave
the hospital since July 2010 but is still waiting for step-down care.
And another patient has been waiting 420 days to be
discharged.
The scandalous situation is as a result of a lack of
step-down care available, leaving patients with no other choice but to remain
in hospital.
Figures
The figures, recorded on March 6, indicate that there
are 84 patients awaiting long-stay care, five patients who are waiting for home
care packages and seven patients in the neurological hospital who are waiting
for external rehabilitation.
According to a spokesperson for the HSE, the number of
delayed discharges can be due to
“various factors including bed availability in
suitable long-term care facilities, NHSS funding (National Home Support
Scheme/Fair Deal) and approval of same
?.
Constant
A spokesman for Beaumont Hospital explained how the
lack of step-down beds is a constant problem hampering the efficient operation
of the hospital.
“Delays in discharges due to the lack of suitable
accommodation in the community for patients whose acute phase of treatment is
finished but who are unable, for whatever reason, to return to independent
living in their own homes, has been a persistent problem for Beaumont,
? he told
Northside People.
Contributes
“The unavailability of these beds contributes to delays
for patients being admitted through the Emergency Department and for patients
awaiting so-called
‘elective’ procedure.
“Timely provision of funding under the Fair Deal to
enable patients to be discharged home with suitable support or to appropriate step-down
facilities is crucial to the efficient use of resources in all acute hospitals.
Beaumont is no exception to this.
?
Dublin North East TD Tommy Broughan (Lab) called on
the Minister for Health James Reilly (FG) to do what it takes to make the acute
beds in Beaumont available for those who need them.
Vital
“It’s vital that the resources in an important
hospital such as Beaumont are freed up and available for patients in need of
acute care,
? said Deputy Broughan.
“I understand that there may be difficulties in
getting services for patients with particularly complex medical needs but
delayed discharge times of hundreds of days is unacceptable and very
distressing for the patient and their families.
?
Beaumont Hospital is a designated Cancer Centre; the Regional
Treatment Centre for Ear, Nose and Throat; Gastroenterology; the National
Referral Centre for Neurosurgery and Neurology; Renal Transplantation; and
Cochlear Implantation.