asked the Minister for Health the total number of hospital beds available in each health board area taking into account both health board and other hospitals; if he will give a breakdown of categories of beds available in each health board area; the ratio of hospital beds to population in each of the health board areas mentioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Hospital Beds.
102.
The table below sets out the information requested by the Deputy as at October 1988 in so far as it is readily available to my Department:
|
Health Board area |
Estimated Number of Acute Consultant-Staffed Hospital Beds |
Beds per 1,000 population* |
|
Eastern |
4,709 |
3.8 |
|
Midland |
410 |
2.0 |
|
Mid-Western |
788 |
2.5 |
|
North-Eastern |
956 |
3.2 |
|
North-Western |
513 |
2.4 |
|
South-Eastern |
970 |
2.5 |
|
Southern |
1,646 |
3.1 |
|
Western |
1,204 |
3.5 |
|
Total |
11,196 |
3.2 |
*The variations in these figures are to some extent explained by the provision of national specialties in some health board areas only and by patients from some areas receiving services in other areas.