The information requested by the Deputy is set out below in respect of the following hospitals: the Mater Misericordiae, Beaumont, St. James's, St. Vincent's, James Connolly Memorial and the new hospital at Tallaght for the period July to September 1998.
Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Dublin, incorporating the National Children's Hospital:
Number of Beds at full capacity — 303 (average figure).
Average length of stay — 6.4 days.
Number of patients who were hospitalised for the following periods: less than one week, 2,646; one week to one month, 1,135; one month to three months, 121; over three months, 12.
Beaumont Hospital
Number of beds at full capacity, 560 (averge figure)
Average length of stay, 11.12 days.
Number of patients who were hospitalised for the following periods: less than one week, 2,516; one week to one month, 1,623; one month to three months, 292; over three months, 31.
James Connolly Memorial Hospital
Number of beds at full capacity, 340.
Average length of stay, 8.13 days.
Number of patients who were hospitalised for the following periods: less than one week, 2,321; one week to one month, 534; one month to three months, 78; over three months, 3.
Mater Misericordiae Hospital
Number of beds at full capacity, 499.
Average length of stay, 10.57 days.
Number of patients who were hospitalised for the following periods: less than one week, 1,956; one week to one month, 1,546; one month to three months, 228; over three months, 31.
St. James's Hospital
Number of beds at full capacity, 434.
Average length of stay, 8.72-8.89 days.
Number of patients who were hospitalised for the following periods: less than one week, 3,239; one week to one month, 1,736; one month to three months, 271; over three months, 70.
St. Vincent's Hospital
Number of beds at full capacity, 450.
Average length of stay, 5.7 days.
Number of patients who were hospitalised for the following periods: less than one week, 2,887; one week to one month, 1,303; one month to three months, 143; over three months, 12.
Patients requiring acute hospital care remain in that environment until such time as their medical condition allows them to be either discharged from hospital or transferred to a step-down care facility more appropriate to their condition.
For the week ending 27 September 1998 I have been informed by the Eastern Health Board that there were 189 patients in the above listed acute hospitals whom it is considered could be accommodated more appropriately in step-down care facilities outside the acute hospital setting.
