250 patients may be put in nursing homes to free beds

NEW figures show more than 250 patients in Dublin hospital could be moved to nursing homes to free up acute beds and relieve the A&E crisis.

The statistics show 352 patients were recently classified as falling into the delayed discharge category. Of these, 100 needed to stay in hospital for further treatment, while 252 could be moved on to nursing homes to complete their recovery, the figures released to RTÉ last night showed.

Health Minister Mary Harney ordered Dublin’s hospitals to carry out a review in recent weeks of the number of beds that could be freed up if alternative care was identified.