Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 May 2000

Vol. 519 No. 5

Written Answers. - Hospital Accommodation.

Brendan Howlin

Question:

199 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that, due to bed shortages at Wexford General Hospital, the utilisation of day beds to accommodate in-patients is now the norm; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that this has detrimental effects on services for day patients and is unsatisfactory in terms of in-patient care; if he will provide the resources necessary to enable the health board to address this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14328/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

The provision of services in this instance is the statutory responsibility of the South Eastern Health Board. The Deputy will be aware that a national review of bed capacity is now under way. As part of this initiative the South Eastern Health Board has recently completed a review of bed capacity across the acute general hospitals in its region. The board has identified a particular need to increase the number of medical beds in its acute general hospitals to take account of the needs of an ageing population.

The board's proposals under the national development plan include the development of services at Wexford General Hospital. The question of progressing this development will be a matter for agreement between my Department and the board.