Patient forced to use bed over lack of support services

AN elderly pensioner suffering from dementia was forced to use a vital hospital bed for six months because no adequate step-down services were available.

The Irish Examiner has learned that the patient, who is in his 70s but has not been named, entered Cork University Hospital (CUH) early last year for a surgical procedure.

While the operation was successful, doctors felt his condition meant it would not be responsible to allow him to return home without the proper support services.