Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 6 Mar 2001

Vol. 532 No. 1

Written Answers. - National Bed Review.

Bernard Allen

Question:

179 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children when the second phase of the national bed review will be completed; the steps which were taken by his Department after the first phase of the review had taken place; and the improvements which have taken place arising from that review. [6551/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

The national review of bed capacity in the acute and non-acute settings was initiated on foot of a commitment by the Government in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. The bed review is being conducted by my Department in conjunction with the Department of Finance and in consultation with the social partners. I presented the interim findings of the review to my Government colleagues last year, as part of the Estimates discussions for 2001, and identified a range of immediate investment proposals aimed at addressing identified service difficulties. I am pleased that funding of £32 million was approved on foot of phase 1 of the review to help alleviate service pressures and to maintain services to patients in the acute hospital sector, particularly over the winter period. The investment package has been targeted at a number of areas, including the contracting of private nursing home beds, the provision of aids and supports for use by older people and the recruitment of over 40 additional consultants to the hospital system.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that these initiatives are being implemented by the various health agencies involved. For example, my Department has been advised by the Eastern Regional Health Authority, ERHA, and the health boards that 600 private nursing home beds have been contracted up to the end of February in response to demand. These beds are being contracted for the purpose of providing alternative complementary facilities for patients who have completed the acute phase of their treatment and care in a general hospital and who require short-term care in a more appropriate setting. In relation to the recruitment of additional consultants, I requested of Comhairle na nOspidéal, as the body with statutory responsibility in this area, that these posts be filled initially on a temporary basis, given the long lead-in time normally associated with the recruitment of consultants. In December 2000 Comhairle na nOspidéal approved the appointment of 29 additional accident and emergency consultants and up to 15 additional consultant anaesthetists. The process of recruiting these additional consultants is under way across the various agencies involved.

The next phase of the national bed review involves the development of a longer term investment strategy for the acute and non-acute sectors. The review involves a detailed national assessment of need, including an analysis of future bed requirements by medical and surgical specialty. This phase of the review will be completed shortly.