There are over 1,800 unused beds in nursing homes across Ireland at a time of renewed pressure in the acute hospital sector, according to the representative body, Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI).

NHI pointed out that 85% of the delayed discharge patients currently in acute hospital beds are aged over 65. It said as recently as last week, a major Dublin hospital reported up to 50 patients on trolleys in its A&E.

According to Tadhg Daly of NHI, an overcrowding crisis is being created in hospitals.

"Families are being more cautious about accessing nursing home care until the Fair Deal legislation is enacted. At the same time the HSE is not releasing funding for older patients to access beds in the nursing home sector, where they could be more appropriately catered for than in the acute hospital setting."

NHI called on Health Minister Mary Harney to ensure that the Fair Deal nursing home funding legislation is fast-tracked during the current Dail session.

In the meantime, it added, funding should be released to enable the HSE to move patients who should not be in acute hospitals to a nearby nursing home.

NHI said its own survey shows that there are currently 1,885 beds lying unused in nursing homes.