Use nursing home beds, group tells Govt

The Irish Federation of Nursing Homes has said that the current crisis in A&E departments in the eastern region could be eased if recovering patients were moved to empty nursing home beds.

The federation said Dublin nursing homes currently have around 200 vacant beds. Spokesman Michael Eustace said 90% of patients in acute hospital beds could be moved to these nursing homes, where they would receive convalescent or long-stay care.