Vol. 546 No. 3
219 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make a statement on recent comments by the chief executive of St. James's Hospital (details supplied) that existing hospital capacity and infrastructure is inadequate to meet increasing levels of patient demand and is not sustainable in the short-term. [31668/01]
Services at St. James's Hospital are provided under an arrangement with the Eastern Regional Health Authority, ERHA. My Department has, therefore, asked the regional chief executive of the authority to examine this matter and to reply directly to the Deputy.
As the Deputy is aware, the Government has decided in the context of the new health strategy, Quality and Fairness: A Health System for You, to provide an additional 3,000 beds in acute hospitals over the next ten years. A total of 650 additional beds will be in place by the end of 2002, including 450 beds in public hospitals. The distribution of these beds is being finalised by my Department in consultation with the health boards and the Eastern Regional Health Authority.
