asked the Minister for Health the total number of beds for TB patients (a) orthopaedic adults, (b) children (1) pulmonary and (2) orthopaedic and (c) adults in the Republic in the years 1910, 1922, 1932, 1942, 1947, 1948, 1951, 1961 and 1963 to the latest date.
Written Answers. - Beds for TB Patients.
180.
Detailed statistics of the kind sought by the Deputy are not readily available in respect of the years, 1910, 1922, 1932, 1942 and 1947.
On 31st July, 1948 the total number of beds occupied by pulmonary tuberculosis cases (adults and children) was 2,927 and by non-pulmonary cases (adults and children) was 770. No further breakdown of these figures is available in my Department.
Figures in respect of occupied beds for the remaining years are as follows:
|
Pulmonary Adults |
Non-Pulmonary Adults |
Pulmonary Children |
Non-Pulmonary Children |
|
|
31st July, 1951 |
4,800 |
476 |
517 |
362 |
|
,,1961 |
1,826 |
139 |
194 |
81 |
|
,,1963 |
1,498 |
119 |
178 |
35 |
The figures in respect of non-pulmonary beds include orthopaedic beds. No separate figures are readily available in regard to the occupancy of these latter beds. For several years, there has not been any effective waiting list for beds for any form of tuberculosis.