Tipperary Independent TD Michael Lowry says that action is urgently needed to prevent the further closure of Nursing Homes.
His comment is in response to news that 50 Nursing Homes have closed since 2019, with 12 out of 14 closing voluntarily in 2022.
Overall 887 elderly care beds have been lost due to the closures – 414 of these beds closed in 2022 alone, with figures for 2023 are not yet available.
Deputy Lowry says the financial pressure on private nursing homes is due to the discrimination by the State under the Fair Deal Scheme in the funding of Private Nursing Home resident care as opposed to Public Nursing Home resident care.
This difference is in excess of €700 per week according to the Thurles based TD.
Public Nursing Homes have these specialised care needs provided at no cost by the HSE while Private operators must pay for services such as Chiropody, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy according to Deputy Lowry.
Some Nursing Homes have also reported difficulty with staff retention.
The lack of adequate Nursing home places will also impact on the ability of hospitals to discharge patients according to Deputy Lowry who wants the Government to intervene to prevent further closures and encourage Private Nursing Home operators to expand or re-enter the market.
