The Health Service Executive has received tenders for 500 care places for people who are currently being cared for in acute hospital beds and expects to have contracts with the providers shortly, the body said today.
The organisation, which took over responsibility for the State's health service in January, defended its plans to alleviate pressure on hospital accident and emergency (A&E) departments, saying it is working in partnership with medical, nursing and other staff to address the problems.
In a statement, the HSE said it had been working nationally on the implementation of the 10-point €70 million plan announced by the Minister for Health Mary Harney.
Some of the measures are aimed at minimising the need for people to go to A&E, while others are designed to free up beds in hospitals for people awaiting admission.
The HSE statement follows ongoing criticism from nurses, other health professionals and the general public over of the lack of progress on the A&E plan. The Irish Nurses' Organisation has been issuing daily updates on the numbers of people receiving treatment on hospital trolleys throughout the country and has threatened to strike if something is not done to sort out the problem.
In it statement, the HSE said it was working on the new measures with hospitals in order to ensure that the investment produces "sustainable solutions".
"While we would all like to see immediate solutions it will take some time to address all the issues involved," the body said.
"The HSE has received tenders for 500 intermediate care places for people who have finished the acute phase of their hospital treatment but are not ready yet to return home or to go to a nursing home of their choice This process is nearing completion and we expect to be in a position to have contracts with providers shortly. This will help to free up beds in acute hospitals."
"Tenders have also been received from service providers for the provision of 100 high-dependency care places. This process is well advanced and a shortlist has been compiled and it will allow people who are being cared for inappropriately in acute hospitals to be transferred to more appropriate care."
In addition, some 400 home-care packages have been approved, which the HSE said will either allow people in acute hospitals to go home or help those already at home to remain there.
It said access to diagnostics was also an important factor in alleviating pressure on A&E departments. An MRI scanner had been approved for Beaumont Hospital in Dublin and this is expected to be in place by August.
Proposals have also been received from hospitals for the development of minor injury clinics and other specialist clinics and these are under discussion.
The statement continued: "The HSE is also in discussions with Beaumont Hospital, Tallaght
Hospital and St. Vincent's University Hospital on the development of acute medical assessment Units, and the hospitals have been asked to develop proposals for AMAU to be delivered by the autumn. These units will help to relieve pressure on A & E Departments."
Discussions have also commenced with GPs on the extension of out-of-hours and weekend cover. The HSE said it had also engaged with the private sector on how it might support the A&E service.