Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Jan 2001

Vol. 529 No. 1

Written Answers. - Acute Hospital Accommodation.

Bernard Allen

Question:

583 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make a statement on the situation where on 30 November 2000 the total number of beds out of use in acute hospitals was 315, representing 2.6% of the designated beds in the public acute hospital system. [1353/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

As I stated in my reply to a Priority Question on 7 December 2000, the total number of beds out of use on 30 November 2000 in acute hospitals was 315. This represented 2.6% of the total number of designated beds in the public acute hospital system (12,327). The following tabular statement details the number of beds out of use at that time. In summary, of the 315 beds out of use: 9% were closed because of bacterial infection; 58% were closed due to ward refurbishment and 33 % were closed due to nursing shortages.

The 9% of beds which were closed due to bacterial infection were those in the haematology/oncology unit (Burkitt Ward) in St. James's Hospital. It is expected that this unit will reopen in March. Some 183 beds were closed due to ward refurbishment. While ward closures are inconvenient, they reflect the unprecedented level of investment now taking place in acute hospital facilities under the national development plan.

With regard to nursing shortages, I have recently announced details of a £5 million package of incentives aimed at attracting nurses and midwives back to work, retaining nurses and midwives in the public health service, and addressing shortages in specialist areas, including accident and emergency. The initiative includes:

A new scheme of flexible working arrangements for nurses and midwives in the public health service which will come into operation on 1 February next. The abolition of fees for "back-to-nursing" courses with immediate effect. In addition, nurses and midwives undertaking such courses will, for the first time ever, be paid a salary. The intention behind this initiative is to remove all financial obstacles in the path of nurses and midwives who wish to return to practice.

From the current academic year, all nurses studying for the post-registration Higher Diploma in Sick Children's Nursing will have their fees refunded. They will also receive an enhanced salary while in training.

The number of available places on specialist nursing courses is being expanded. In order to encourage more nurses into specialised areas of clinical practice, nurses undertaking specific courses will now receive full pay while doing so. They will also have their course fees paid in return for a commitment to continue working in the specialist area for a specified period following completion of the course.

Funding is being provided to the HSEA to employ a nurse manager to co-ordinate the provision of supervised clinical placements for nurses recruited from abroad.

A major advertising campaign aimed at attracting qualified nurses and midwives back to work is under way. This campaign is making use of radio and print media advertising to market nursing as a career with the specific objective of encouraging nurses and midwives back into the system.

In addition, hospitals have been seeking to recruit nurses from abroad. At end of December 2000, 531 working visas and 26 work authorisations had been granted to nurses. Staffing difficulties currently being encountered will ease as these nurses commence employment.

I have asked my Department to make arrangements with the health boards and the Eastern Regional Health Authority to keep the need for bed closures under continuous review.

Number of hospital beds out of use 30 November 2000

Health Board/Health Authority	Number of Beds Out of Use
Eastern Regional Health Authority	35 in Beaumont Hospital due to nursing shortages.27 in St James' Hospital in the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit due to the outbreak of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus (VRE), an antibiotic resistant bacteria.8 in the Mater Misericordiae Hospital due to nursing shortages.16 in St Michael's Hospital due to ward refurbishment and temporary relocation of beds to A&E Department (4).
Midland Health Board	0
Mid-Western Health Board	4 in Nenagh General Hospital due to refurbishment.25 in the Regional Orthopaedic Hospital due to ward refurbishment.

Number of hospital beds out of use 30 November 2000

Health Board/Health Authority	Number of Beds Out of Use
North-Eastern Health Board	29 in Monaghan General Hospital due to refurbishment of a medical ward.41 in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda due to nursing shortages.21 in Our Lady's Hospital, Navan due to nursing shortages.
North-Western Health Board	12 in Sligo General Hospital due to renovation works.
South-Eastern Health Board	0
Southern Health Board	35 in Cork University Hospital due to ward refurbishment.
Western Health Board	62 in University College Hospital Galway due to ward upgrade.
Total	315