Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Dec 1997

Vol. 485 No. 2

Written Answers. - Detoxification Programme.

Liz McManus

Question:

241 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children the existing provision of hospital beds for detoxification; the numbers using these beds in 1996 and to date in 1997; the average length of stay in this regard; the current waiting time for drug addicts to avail of a detox bed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23150/97]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

There are currently 22 beds for detoxification in the Dublin region. Twelve beds are in Cuan Dara, Cherry Orchard Hospital and ten beds are in Beaumont Hospital. The Cuan Dara Unit has recently been extended to provide five additional beds which will bring the number of beds available there to 17 and to 27 in total in the Dublin region.

The number of admissions and the average length of stay for both detoxification units are as follows:

	1996	1997 (to 30/11/97)
Cuan Dara
Number of admissions	129	133
Average length of stay	27.3 days	23.61 days
Beaumont
Number of admissions	240	208
Average length of stay	13.39 days	14.09 days

Admissions are carried out on a priority basis, so emergency cases are dealt with immediately. The normal waiting time for detoxification for nonemergency cases is in the region of six weeks.

The additional beds in Cuan Dara will be fully operational from early in 1998 and will allow an increased number to be accommodated in the detoxification programme from that date.