Continuing your care

Sometimes patients reach a point where they are medically stable and well but still not quite ready to go home. This page provides information on some of the services that our patients move on to or avail of to continue their care after they leave our hospital.

Our post acute care service (PACS)

If you are medically stable but your doctors feel that you need ongoing care before going home, they may recommend that you move to our Post Acute Care Services (PACS). This centre is located in Fairview - just three kilometres from the main Mater Hospital. PACS is managed and run by Mater Hospital staff. There are three units within PACS – the Synge, Yeats and Joyce Units. Read more about our Post Acute Care Services unit.

Continuing your treatment in another hospital

Rehabilitation

We work closely with a number of hospitals and units that specialise in rehabilitation. If you are admitted to the Mater Hospital with an injury, stroke or another condition that will require rehabilitation, we will begin planning your rehabilitation at an early stage. While we are treating your acute illness, we will also begin looking at the best location option for you to move on to after the Mater Hospital. Some of the rehabilitation centres that we work closely with include:

Convalescence

If you are ready to leave our hospital, but need additional time to recover before going home, your doctors may recommend that you transfer to a unit that provides convalescence care. Some of these units include St Mary's Hospital, Caritas and Mount Carmel Hospital.

Returning to another hospital

If you were transferred to the Mater Hospital from another acute hospital for specialist treatment, we will aim to discharge you back to your primary hospital once that main treatment is completed here and you are well enough to return there.

Moving on to a nursing home

You, your relatives and your healthcare team may decide that the best option for you is long term care within a nursing home. If this is the case, we will work with you and your family to help find the best nursing home for you. We will support you in applying for a place and with funding options such as the Nursing Home Support Scheme, which is also known as the 'Fair Deal Scheme'.

The 'Fair Deal' scheme

What is it?

The Nursing Home Support Scheme (NHSS), also known as the 'Fair Deal' scheme, gives financial help to people who need long-term nursing home care. You make a contribution towards the cost of your care and the State pays the balance.

The amount that you contribute is means tested. A means test is a way of looking at your income and your financial resources. This information is used to decide how much you should pay, or if you should pay at all.

Applying for 'Fair Deal'

There are a number of steps to the scheme. You can read more about them in the following brochures:

Nursing Homes Support Scheme information booklet (HSE)
Frequently asked questions about the scheme (Department of Health)

How we can help you

The Mater Hospital's social work department can help answer any questions you may have and help you with your application for the scheme. We will also give you and your family an information pack at the beginning of the process. To get started, just ask a member of the Mater Hospital team to refer you to the social work department.