Almost three-quarters of patients occupying beds in Dublin hospitals at the end of their acute treatment were medically suitable for transfer to nursing home care, according to an assessment carried out by the Department of Health.
Persons close to the Department said last night that 252 patients did not require high-level care. A snapshot assessment of Dublin hospitals, carried out mainly on October 20th, found that there were 352 patients occupying beds after their acute treatment had finished.
Last week the Department came under strong criticism as a result of overcrowding in Dublin hospital accident and emergency units, with dozens of patients waiting to be admitted.
The hospitals said the problem was due to a shortage of beds and the fact that many existing beds were occupied by patients who had nowhere else to go.
Department sources said that the reason many patients remained in hospitals was due to issues such as State subventions for nursing home care.
Meanwhile, the Tánaiste and Minister for Health, Ms Harney, last night gave a written assurance that patients would not lose out on compensation as a result of a row between the Government and a UK-based indemnity body over malpractice insurance for doctors. Ms Harney told medical bodies in a letter that consultants would not be left uncovered either against legal action.
The UK-based Medical Defence Union (MDU) has declined to provide cover for a number of hospital consultants in a dispute with the Government over who should pay for historic liabilities arising from incidents of alleged negligence that took place before a State indemnity scheme was introduced earlier this year.
Ms Harney said that the MDU actions were "unreasonable and unjustified". She told hospital consultants she wanted "time-limited" talks with their organisation that would deal with both the insurance issues and a new contract for senior doctors.
