Elderly woman still in hospital because Fair Deal not pursued, High Court told

An elderly woman with dementia has been medically fit for discharge from a busy hospital since April but remains there because her family have failed to pursue nursing home care under the Fair Deal scheme, the HSE has told the High Court.

The president of the High Court, Mr Justice Peter Kelly, ordered the woman’s transfer to a nursing home pending an application to have her made a ward of court, which would facilitate a Fair Deal arrangement.