Yesterday marked something of a milestone for the health service. For 50 days in the past three months, the number of delayed transfers of care has exceeded 500 patients across acute hospitals. For 50 days, there have been over 500 people waiting and ready to leave acute hospitals but cannot. They need step-down care, specialised beds, home care packages and nursing homes. These people need care that would cost a lot less than being in an acute hospital bed. Of course, all of this is taking place at a time when the HSE has overspent for the first quarter of this year, the Minister for Health is telling us that we need another €300 million in the health service for this year and the medical board at University Hospital Limerick is saying that there is a very real risk to patient safety there right now. When I talk to hospital managers across the country, they are telling me of closed step-down beds and repeated business cases being submitted but going nowhere. Are alarm bells going off at the moment with regards to the health budget and the needs that are there? What plans does the Minister specifically have for step-down beds?

Sentiment score: 0.17