Patients who are being "inappropriately cared for" in acute hospitals are now beginning to be discharged under the Minister for Health's 10-point plan to alleviate pressure on A&E departments, the Health Service Executive has said.
In a statement issued on the eve of nurses' protests, the HSE said 27 patients who had completed the acute phase of their treatment had been discharged home with a package of care and a further 41 are in the process of being discharged.
"We have identified 180 people in Acute Hospitals who have completed that phase of their treatment and are ready to be discharged home with care packages. We are now in the process of making these arrangements," said Pat McLoughlin, director of the National Hospitals Office.
"This is a very important initiative as the majority of older people wish to remain at home where that is possible."
"The HSE has received funding this year to provide 400 home care packages, which should contribute significantly to reducing pressure on hospital A&E Departments," Mr McLoughlin added.
Mr McLoughlin said the tender process was completed for the intermediate care beds for people who had finished the acute phase of their hospital treatment but are not yet ready to return home or are waiting for a bed in a nursing home of their choice.
The first patients will be discharged to these beds this week.
The HSE said it is in discussions with hospitals regarding their proposals for the development of minor injury clinics and specialist clinics. However, these measures have proven controversial among doctors and medical professionals.
The HSE said an additional 200 acute hospital beds are to be provided this year and also that discussions had commenced with GPs on the extension of out-of-hours and weekend GP cover.
Ms Harney announced a €70 million package earlier this year to help tackle the A&E crisis.
However, it has been widely criticised by the medical profession, particularly nurses, as ineffective to date.
Nurses across the State will tomorrow begin a series of lunchtime protests highlighting the overcrowding crisis in accident and emergency units.
The Irish Nurses Organisation announced details of the planned action today. The protests, entitled 'Enough is Enough,' will take the form of lunchtime demonstrations, lasting a half an hour, at various hospitals around the country for the month of April.
Nurses, patients, and the general public will participate in the series of protests which will target one Dublin hospital and one provincial hospital twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the rest of the month.
The first protest will take place at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, and Wexford General Hospital tomorrow for a half an hour from 1pm onwards.
Siptu has voiced its support for the campaign and its members will join in the protests which are being led by the INO. SIPTU's National Nursing Official, Oliver McDonagh, warned of the likelihood of an escalation in the situation.
Mr McDonagh said "Unless the Tánaiste and Minister for Health, Mary Harney comes up with real and lasting solutions to the crisis in accident and emergency units we could yet be facing industrial action.
