Stopping the ’hospital to home’ service at Southlands means a reduction of service and 14 ’mothballed’ beds at the care home in Port Erin.

Rushen MHK Juan Watterson asked Minister for Health and Social Care Kate Beecroft about the service after questions were raised in the community.

Mrs Beecroft explained the service was a four-bed short-term residential service at Southlands in Port Erin.

In 2014, the department commissioned a reablement service for the whole of the island providing six weeks of support in their own homes for people after their discharge from hospital.

This service has received in excess of 1,200 referrals: and it supported 332 people between April 2016 and March 2017.

The reablement service team provides support with personal care, preparation of meals and mobility: and ensures that the right aids are in place and accessible.

The reablement service has been well received and has enabled people to return home directly after discharge from hospital.

The proportion of people aged 65 and over supported by the service still at home 91 days after discharge from hospital was 5.7 per cent higher than the UK average between July and September. The accommodation in what was the ’hospital to home’ facility will provide an additional 14 residential care beds when staffing resources allow.

But Mr Watterson said: ’The answer reflects a reduction of service at Southlands, which is to my mind a retrograde step. Instead of providing four "hospital to home" beds, we will have 14 mothballed beds if and when money can be found to staff them.

’With the DHSC’s current funding issues, I wouldn’t recommend people in the south hold their breath.’

He admitted the service means more people are supported ’compared to the limit of four semi-intensive beds’, adding: ’It remains to be seen how well needs are being met - it is inevitable that some people’s needs will be greater than others.’