Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 19 Oct 1999

Vol. 509 No. 4

Written Answers. - Hospital Accommodation.

Ivor Callely

Question:

219 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health and Children if there are sufficient hospital beds in the Dublin area to meet demand; the areas where there is an identified need to supplement existing beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20345/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

There are a total of 4,855 acute hospital beds in public hospitals in the Eastern Health Board area. Of these 4,855 beds 4,548 are in-patient beds and 307 are day beds.

As the Deputy may be aware the report of the review group on the waiting list initiative, which I published last year, recommended the implementation of a range of steps to free up acute hospital facilities for more elective work. It pointed out that a significant proportion of acute hospital beds were being inappropriately used by patients who did not need, or who no longer needed, acute hospital care. This problem arises due to a shortage of places in the areas of "step-down" or convalescent care, rehabilitation facilities and community based services which reduce the need to use acute hospital care.

Accordingly, I have provided funding in 1999 of £3.83 million for the development of services for older people in the Eastern region which will be an important factor in helping to free up acute hospital beds which are currently occupied by patients who could be accommodated in more appropriate convalescent or extended care facilities or discharged home if adequate community supports were available. It will be used,inter alia, to improve the home help service, increase the number of nursing and paramedical staff in the community, provide support for carers, enable a number of new health board convalescent or extended care facilities to open and increase the number of private nursing home places either subvented or contracted by health boards.

There are also a number of chronic sick in acute hospitals who have completed the acute phase of their illness and who are awaiting placement at a level of care more appropriate to their needs. The task of identifying and securing appropriate alternative care facilities for them is under way and this also will have a significant impact on freeing up acute beds in general hospitals over the coming months.