Up to 900 public nursing home beds could be lost

AS many as 900 public nursing home beds could be removed from the system within months in an attempt to cut health service costs — nearly double the initially reported figure of 555.

An appendix note on page 47 of the HSE’s 2012 national service plan, which acts as its de facto budget for the year, has confirmed that the rate of bed closures may be as high as 898. This is despite official statements that “a minimum” of 555 beds would be closed.

The cuts, which mean a “small number” of public nursing homes will close completely, have been described by Health Minister James Reilly as part of plans to offer older people the chance of “holistic” home help packages instead of residential care.