Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 29 Sep 1999

Vol. 508 No. 1

Written Answers. - Hospital Bed Closures.

Alan Shatter

Question:

447 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of hospital beds closed in respect of each hospital in the period 1 June 1999 up to and including 31 August 1999; and the number of bed days lost during this period. [17519/99]

Alan Shatter

Question:

504 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of bed days lost to date in each hospital as a consequence of ward and bed closures; and the period of time in respect of each hospital when these closures occurred. [18035/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 447 and 504 together.

Details of the number of bed closures and resulting bed days lost are set out on the following table.

In considering the delivery of service in the acute hospital sector, it is appropriate to examine the overall level of service provided in the sector rather than to simply focus on the number of beds available at any given time. This reflects major changes that have been taking place in medical practice, resulting in reduced average in-patient lengths of stay, a continuing shift in the delivery of care from an in-patient to day case basis and the increasing provision of treatment at outpatient level.

In developing and delivering service plans, the implementation of an appropriate mix between in-patient, day case and outpatient care is a major consideration for local management in seeking to maximise overall activity. As part of this process, activity in the acute hospital sector is planned over a 12 month period having regard to anticipated levels of emergency admissions and the overall resources available. In achieving the activity targets set out in the annual service plan, temporary bed closures would form a part of the normal bed management function performed by local management as part of their efforts to optimise the overall activity delivered within the resources available. They also, of course, facilitate staff annual leave, refurbishment works and the scaling down of elective activity at times of low demand such as the high summer period and at Christmas.

The total discharges, both in-patient and day case, in the acute hospital system for the period January to December 1998 was 809,099. At outpatient level, the figures show that 1,960,126 attendances were recorded in that period. This huge volume of overall activity represented an increase of 3 per cent over 1997 levels. In particular, the level of hospital care being provided on a day case basis showed a very significant increase, up over 8 per cent in 1998 over 1997 levels. The increasing delivery of care at this level reflects trends in modern medical practice and is indicative of a service that is increasingly focusing resources in a manner that is best suited to the needs of the public.

This upward trend in overall activity is continuing in the first six months of 1999. Overall discharges, in-patient and day case, are up over 3.6 per cent over the same period in 1998. Against this background, the average monthly temporary bed closures in the year to end August have amounted to just 2.7 per cent of total bed numbers.

Eastern Health Board Area	Bed Complement	Average monthlynumber of bed closures from June to 31 August 1999	Average monthly number of bed days lost from June to 31 August 1999	Average monthly number of bed closures to date	Average monthly number of bed days lost to date
Beaumont Hospital	627	41.5	765.66	15.87	368.62
Cappagh Hospital	126	3	93	2.37	73.62
The Coombe Hospital	237	0	0	0	0
Our Lady's Hospital forSick Children, Crumlin	258	0	0	0	0
National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street	266	8	196	4.5	120
Eastern Health Board Area	Bed Complement	Average monthlynumber of bed closures from June to 31 August 1999	Average monthly number of bed days lost from June to 31 August 1999	Average monthly number of bed closures to date	Average monthly number of bed days lost to date
Incorporated Orthopaedic Hospital, Clontarf	104	0	0	0	0
James Connolly Memorial Hospital	257	0	0	0	0
Mater	483	19.33	594.33	23.25	573.37
Naas General	94	0	0	0	0
Rotunda	189	6.66	46.66	10	70
Royal Victoria Eye and Ear	90	19.33	526.65	17.62	348.25
Hume Street	31	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
St. Colmcille's	150	15	460	15	455.62
St. James's	700	29.66	717.66	12.87	283.12
St. Luke's	172	6.66	36.66	2.5	13.75
St. Michael's	95	8	109.33	8	115
St. Vincent's	472	11.33	347.33	16	452.87
Temple Street	144	1.33	14.66	2.12	63.25
Tallaght	462	0	0	0	0
Totals	4897	169.8	3907.95	130.1	2937.47
MHB
Mullingar	188	33	308	10.37	121.87
Portlaoise	140	0	0	0	0
Tullamore	177	12	290	14.25	158.5
Totals	505	45	598	24.62	280.37
MWHB
Croom	99	30.66	820.66	27.75	798.5
Ennis	94	6.66	200	2.5	75
Limerick Regional	397	19.33	571.33	7.25	214.25
Limerick Reg. Maternity	116	0	0	3	4
Nenagh	74	5.33	154.66	2	58
St. John's	104	14.33	444.33	5.37	166.62
Totals	884	76.31	2190.98	47.87	1316.37
SEHB
Cavan	184	4	48	1.5	18
Dundalk	143	19.66	429.66	8.62	182.37
Monaghan	149	18	266	6.75	99.75
Navan	190	22.66	573.66	8.5	215.12
Drogheda	367	38.33	892.33	19.75	383
Totals	1033	102.65	2209.65	45.12	898.24
NWHB
Letterkenny	317	18	444	8.62	172.12
Sligo	340	23.33	443.33	15.75	187.25
Totals	657	41.33	887.33	24.37	359.37
SERB
Cashel	81	0	0	0	0
Clonmel	177	0	0	0	0
Kilcroone	91	0	0	0	0
Kilkenny	198	30	247	7.5	92.52
Waterford	393	0	0	0	0
Wexford	196	10.66	109.33	4	41
Totals	1136	40.66	356.33	11.5	133.62
SHB
Bantry	68	0	0	0	0
Cork University Hospital	566	7.66	226	5.62	168.62
Erinville	58	0	0	0	0
Gurranebraher	128	0	0	4.87	13.12
Mallow	69	0	0	0	0
St. Finbarr's	133	0	0	0	0
Tralee	354	0	0	3.75	11.25
Mercy	255	10.66	330.66	4	124
South Victoria	186	25	700	14.12	310
Totals	1813	43.32	1256.66	32.36	626.99
WHB
Mayo General	270	2	60	0.75	22.5
Merlin Park	202	0	0	4	40
Roscommon	120	0	0	0	0
UCHG	538	33	199.33	12.37	74.75
Portiuncula	212	0	0	0	0
Total	1342	35	259.33	17.12	113.25
Overall Totals	12267	669.07	1182.23	334.94	6747.81