Vol. 411 No. 1
569 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Health the number of (a) surgical, (b) orthopaedic and (c) long stay beds which are, in his opinion, required to have an effective health service for those needing hospital care in each health board area; the cost per bed unit of such a service; and whether there is a surplus of beds in the North Eastern Health Board area.
I am satisfied that there are sufficient general surgical, orthopaedic and long stay beds available in all health board areas, including the North Eastern Health Board, to ensure an effective service in these specialities. An exercise on costings in a number of larger hospitals throughout the country is underway at present and this shows an average cost per bed day for a general surgical bed of £173 and for an orthopaedic bed, £157. The average cost per long stay bed is £26 approximately a day.
