Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 Apr 2000

Vol. 517 No. 4

Written Answers. - Hospital Accommodation.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

195 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the total capacity of medical and surgical beds in respect of all of the public hospitals in the greater Dublin area and Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10158/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The total number of beds formally approved under article 8 of the Health Services (In-patient) Regulations, 1991, in hospitals in the greater Dublin area and in Kildare is 4,855. This number includes private, public and non-designated beds in acute, maternity and paediatric hospitals in this area. The designation of hospital beds into medical, surgical or other categories is a matter for the management of the hospital concerned and is subject to service demand.

The Deputy may be aware that the Government is committed in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness to a review of bed capacity in both the acute and non-acute settings. I am pleased to say that preparations for this review are under way. It will be conducted by my Department in conjunction with the Department of Finance and the social partners. The review is of critical importance in the context of assessing the capacity of the hospital system to manage periodic surges in emergency admissions and the reduction of waiting times for elective treatment. I am anxious that the review be conducted as a priority and it is my intention that the findings will inform discussions in the context of the Estimates for 2001. I have already had discussions with the chief executive officers of the health boards in relation to the scope of the review. Key components of the review will include an examination of the effectiveness of existing measures in place to ensure appropriate use of accident and emergency departments, and the scope for further measures to improve the management of the demand for acute beds; the development of a quantitative profile of capacity utilisation throughout the acute system and in particular the scope for improved management of the existing in-patient workload and increased use of day care facilities; a review of the measures currently in place to ensure timely discharge to appropriate care for patients who have completed the acute phase of their treatment.