Vol. 491 No. 7
170 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of beds available in the Adelaide, Meath and National Children's Hospitals; the number of beds that will be available in the new Tallaght Hospital when it opens in June 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13254/98]
The approved bed complement in the Adelaide, Meath and National Children's Hospitals totals 534. The bed designations have not yet been finalised for the new hospital. However, when the new hospital opens in Tallaght later this month, 462 beds will be available. In addition to this, 56 psychiatric beds will come on stream later. There is also the potential for utilising 16 accident and emergency observation beds. When the bed designations are finalised by the hospital management, there may be a slight reduction, nine beds, to allow for private/semi-private designations in both in-patient and day-care facilities.
The Deputy should also be aware that the hospital will in addition to the above have exclusive access to an inner city 35 bed Eastern Health Board facility which will cater for patients who otherwise would inappropriately occupy acute beds in the hospital. This brings the total beds available on opening to 504 compared to the 534 beds available in the base hospitals.
The Deputy will be aware that the hospital management is currently finalising its arrangements to proceed with construction of a private wing which when completed will ensure that overall there will be no decrease in beds available to the hospital. In the interim, the hospital, in association with the Department and the Eastern Health Board where appropriate, will be examining ways of enhancing its patient management systems under the following headings: pre-admission systems — admission avoidance; accident and emergency system improvement; admission process flow; and more efficient discharge planning.
The Eastern Health Board facility referred to above is an example of the kind of measure which can ease pressure on acute hospital beds. In addition, increased use of day care and the enhanced Out Patient facilities in the hospital, which will be available in October 1998, will have a direct effect on the productivity of the hospital.
171 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health and Children the total number of public and private general hospital beds available for the provision of services; the number of beds available in each of the years 1977, 1982, 1987 and 1993; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13255/98]
The number of beds in publicly funded acute hospitals for the years 1977, 1982 and 1987 were 14,965, 15,106 and 13,131 respectively. These figures refer to the total bed complement at 31 December and a breakdown into public and private beds is not available. Data for 1993 and 1997 are set out in the table below and refer to the average number of beds available for use over the full year taking beds that have been temporarily opened or closed into account.
In looking at acute hospital service delivery I feel it is inappropriate to focus solely on bed numbers as a measure of hospital resources. In recent years, more emphasis has been placed on overall levels of service provided in acute hospitals rather than on the provision of a specific number of beds. This is a reflection of the major changes in medical practice which have resulted in a reduction in the length of stay for in-patient care and a marked shift towards day case surgery and treatment of patients at out-patient level.
Beds in Publicly Funded Acute Hospitals 1993 and 1997.
|
Year |
Public |
Private |
Non-Designated |
Total |
|
1993 |
9,296 |
2,337 |
696 |
12,329 |
|
1997* |
9,121 |
2,463 |
894 |
12,478 |
