Cautious welcome for €5.5m scheme to free up hospital beds

A new bid by Health Minister Micheál Martin to free up beds in acute hospitals has been welcomed by the Irish Patients’ Association.

But the patients’ advocate group said the €5.5 million initiative, part of a €75.5m package announced by the minister yesterday, should be in addition to the reopening of 300-plus acute beds which were closed due to financial difficulties.

Up to 350 beds in acute hospitals are occupied by patients whose treatment has been completed but still require nursing care. This causes difficulties for A&Es wanting to get patients off trolleys and chairs and into beds.