Nursing homes offer beds to alleviate hospital crisis

The Federation of Irish Nursing Homes has offered to provide beds to the Department of Health to help it overcome the shortage in public hospitals.

The federation said it has not been officially approached, but it would be willing to discuss the possibility of letting the Government use vacant nursing home beds.

Spokesman Michael Eustace said: "We have more than 100 beds vacant in the Dublin area.

"We are aware from news reports that there is a shortage of beds within the hospital sector and are letting the department know that we do have empty beds out in the community.

"We are prepared to come to some arrangement with the department to help them overcome this crisis."