Stop wasting taxpayers money on private nursing home beds - Stanley to HSE

Sinn Fein's Brian Stanley has called on the HSE to "stop wasting taxpayers money on private nursing home beds". Deputy Stanley was speaking after receiving a response to a parliamentary question regarding Ofalia House in Edenderry. "In response to my Parliamentary Question concerning Ofalia House I have been informed by the HSE that HIQA have registered the facility as suitable to provide care for up to a maximum of 47 residents yet only 36 continuing care beds and two respite care beds are occupied while the Palliative Care room is unused," he said. "A further two respite beds, funded by the HSE, are available in a private nursing home in Tyrellspass which places additional hardship and expense on those families wishing to visit and for this reason many refuse to go there." Deputy Stanley described the situation as "scandalous" and said another nine beds in Ofalia House could be utilised immediately if the governemnt lifted the moratorium on recruiting staff and used money on staffing rather than wasting it on paying fees to private nursing homes. "While the HSE state that it is their intention to maintain current activity levels, this is constantly under review and is dependent on the continued availability of resources," Deputy Stanley said. "My concern here is that funding will be cut despite these assurances as we have seen this week with regard to Roscommon and other hospitals." Deputy Stanley concluded by calling for the required resources to be provided to enable all 59 beds in Ofalia House to be made available. "Ofalia House is an excellent nursing home whose dedicated and professional staff provide patients with the highest standard of care and I will continue to fight for the upgrading of this facility at every opportunity," he ended.