To ask the Minister of Health to detail the current process in place for discharge from hospital into a care home.

Discharge from hospital into a care home is following a multi-disciplinary assessment process to establish the patient’s needs.

There are different circumstances in which individuals discharge to a care home. Some patients may need an extra period of rehabilitation and this may be provided in a care home before long-term care needs are established. With other patients there may be limited rehabilitation and a care home is required to meet their longer-term needs.

Additionally, due to the regional shortage of homecare workers patients may discharge temporarily to a care home to await a package of care if essential care is not available at the point of hospital discharge. My department has waived the fees in these circumstances.

In recognition of the pressures on the HSC system my department is progressing on the maximisation of care home capacity and homecare through the Social Care Collaborative Forum.