More than 750 beds have now been lost in nursing homes around Ireland amid a worsening bed crisis in the sector.
That's according to Sinn Finn Health Spokesperson, Waterford TD David Cullinane.
An external auditor is expected to be appointed tomorrow to examine the books and accounts of RTE and the use of public funding.
Ahead of this, Deputy Cullinane told Déise Today that sufficient investment into public and private beds in nursing homes has not been forthcoming.
Looking to how to address the issue, he says: "We need much more public capacity, and we simply hasn't seen anything like the investment needed. I haven't seen much evidence of any public build with the exception of the replacement of beds which we have seen in Waterford."
Closures within Waterford
In recent years, Waterford has seen the closure of two large nursing homes, leaving families and patients concerned about relocating to an alternative nursing home.
Deputy Cullinane says this represents a " a loss of capacity within Waterford city and county," adding, "we can't lose capacity, and in my opinion, we have to build more public capacity."
Nursing homes nationally are struggling to survive under the Fair Deal Scheme as it stands, with the rising cost of living, a contributing factor in the challenge to stay open and viable.
"We have also had HIQA reports that have identified a real sustainability issue with private nursing home capacity. If you have rising food costs, rising energy costs, and rising staffing costs, but your income remains the same, that puts additional pressures on homes," he says.
Deputy Cullinane, who is the Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Health has called on Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly to take action and prevent the further closures of homes locally.
