Elderly patients in a respite home funded by the Health Service Executive (HSE) are being forced to go to a private nursing home during the summer because of staff shortages, it was confirmed yesterday.

Problems with staff cover at Cherry Orchard Hospital in Dublin means the HSE is having to pay for the care of the elderly residents "on the double".

The issue was raised by Sinn Fein TD Aengus O Snodaigh who said not only were elderly people being disrupted but the HSE was wasting money by closing one of its own units and paying for private care.

"The HSE and the management of Cherry Orchard Hospital propose to close down the newly refurbished Beech House, containing 25 community beds and to subcontract a private operator to treat 10 public patients at a greater cost to the public purse than keeping the facility open.

"Ms Harney and Professor Drumm of the HSE should resign immediately for gross incompetence."

A spokesperson for the HSE said yesterday that the summer is the peak holiday period for hospital staff.

In particular, when this is combined with large numbers of staff being absent on maternity leave it is difficult to maintain the full range of services throughout the summer.

"This action is being taken to enable the hospital to maintain the highest standards of care to patients within the approved resource allocation," the HSE said.

"The respite service will be fully resumed in Cherry Orchard from October."