Councillor slams 'unacceptable' lack of nursing home and respite care beds across Tipperary

Independent councillor for the Tipperary-Cahir-Cashel Municipal District, John O'Heney, has slammed the 'unacceptable' shortage in both nursing home and respite care beds available across the county.

Cllr O'Heney released the following statement on the matter earlier this week:

"There is a significant and escalating shortage of nursing home and respite care beds across County Tipperary. This shortage is having a profound impact on older people, individuals with additional care needs, and their families, many of whom are left without access to the vital support they require.

"Many people are also being placed in beds far away from their homes, due to a lack of beds in their local area.

"The current lack of capacity is placing additional strain on acute hospital services, as patients who are medically fit for discharge cannot access appropriate step-down or long-term care. It is also putting unsustainable pressure on family carers, many of whom are struggling to meet complex care needs in the absence of respite services.

"Access to nursing home and respite care is a matter of dignity, safety, and quality of life. It is imperative that urgent action is taken to expand capacity in both public and private facilities, and to ensure that resources are allocated where the need is greatest.

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"Ireland currently has over 460 registered nursing homes serving more than 25,000 residents, with occupancy rates at or above 90%. The demographic profile of the population (especially over-65s) suggests that approximately 45,000 additional nursing home beds will be required by 2031 simply to meet projected demand.

"Athough data from private and voluntary nursing homes shows that there has been a modest increase in bed numbers in those sectors, this has been offset by a net reduction of beds in public long-term residential care homes.

"HIQA reports have led to closures of rooms in older nursing homes, and individuals on waiting lists have had no clarity or certainty about when or if additional beds will become available."

Cllr John O'Heney suggest thats "Urgent investment is made to expand bed capacity in both public and voluntary/private sectors across Tipperary and that the HSE publishes a clear and transparent plan for the roll-out of long-term residential and respite care beds (including timelines) in areas such as Nenagh, Cashel, Tipperary Town, and wherever the need is greatest.

"The County Councillor is insisting on waiting lists to be made public and monitored, and that family carers are supported in the interim with adequate home and community-based care resources, including true respite options and also that Regulatory standards (such as HIQA standards) are enforced, but support is given to older facilities to avoid loss of capacity that worsens the shortage.

"I have spoken to many families in Tipperary who are bearing the burden of this shortage – people who are medically fit for care in a nursing home or who need brief respite have nowhere to go.

"This is not just a numbers issue, it’s a dignity issue. To allow our elderly residents to wait years for a suitable bed is unacceptable.

"The authorities must immediately commit to expanding capacity, accelerating approvals, and ensuring that any new units are genuinely available for long-term or respite care, not simply used as overflow."

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