Nursing Homes Ireland today, 29th May, noted with concern the significant increase in pressures being brought to bear upon acute hospitals and reports that acute hospitals have overspent their budgets by more than €63m in the first three months of 2014. At the beginning of the year, NHI described the drastic cut to Fair Deal 2014 budget as “illogical and short-sighted” and warned it would unavoidably increase pressures upon the acute hospital sector.

The March 2014 Performance Assurance report details 454 fewer persons are supported by Fair Deal since beginning of year and 572 persons are Fair Deal approved but not in payment. The pressures being brought to bear upon the acute hospital sector because of cut to Fair Deal budget are evident in the delayed discharge figures contained within the report. As of 25th March, 630 persons were awaiting discharge from acute hospitals and the majority – 448 persons (71%) - were awaiting discharge to long-term nursing care.

Tadhg Daly, NHI CEO stated: “NHI warned at beginning of year cut to Fair Deal budget will have significant impact upon our acute hospital sector and wider health services. Reduced funding for the Fair Deal means older persons are being denied funding despite having been assessed as requiring nursing home care and this is bringing further pressures to bear upon our acute hospitals. Persons who should be availing of the specialist care in our local communities are remaining in hospitals settings which are often inappropriate for their care requirements and considerably more expensive.”