Elderly woman to stay in psychiatric unit pending clarity on nursing home admissions

Mr Justice Peter Kelly said the main problem appears to be due to an absence of updated national guidelines, in the context of Covid-19, for admission of new patients by nursing homes.

15 nursing homes in the woman's area had said they cannot, as of now, admit her, he noted. File image

An elderly woman with dementia, who cannot go home for safety reasons, is to remain inappropriately placed in a hospital acute psychiatric unit after 15 nursing homes were unable to admit her.

High Court president Mr Justice Peter Kelly said today the main problem appears to be due to an absence of updated national guidelines, in the context of Covid-19, for admission of new patients by nursing homes.