Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 17 Dec 2002

Vol. 559 No. 5

Written Answers. - Hospital Accommodation.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

263 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of new hospital beds which have been provided since 6 June 2002; the hospitals in which these beds have been provided; the number which have been provided to each; the number of new hospital beds which will be provided by 31 December 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26302/02]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

Following a comprehensive review of acute hospital bed capacity needs, the Government decided, in the context of the health strategy, to provide an additional 3,000 beds in acute hospitals over the next ten years. My Department has been informed by the Eastern Regional Health Authority, ERHA, and the health boards that 520 beds will be commissioned by year end in the public sector, of which 374 will have been commissioned since 6 June 2002. This exceeds the target of 450 public beds as announced in the health strategy, Quality and Fairness – A Health System for You.

The following table provides a full listing of the hospitals in which the 520 additional beds will be provided.

Bed Capacity Beds in place 2002

Health Board	Hospital	No. of Beds
ERHA	St. James	74
	Temple Street	15
	St. Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, incorporating St. Michael's, Dún Laoghaire	42
	Naas General	61
	St. Joseph's	30
	Adelaide and Meath Hospital, incorporating the National Children's Hospital, Tallaght	7
	Sub-Total	229
MWHB	Limerick Regional	55
	Nenagh Regional	6
	Sub-Total	61
NEHB	Our Lady's, Navan	14
	Louth County	14
	Sub-Total	28
NWHB	Sligo General	30
	Letterkenny General	8
	Sub-Total	38
SEHB	Wexford General	10
	Lourdes Orthopaedic, Kilcreene	28
	Waterford Regional	24
	St. Luke's, Kilkenny	14
	Sub-Total	76
SHB	Tralee General	16
	Mercy	13
	Bantry General	8
	Sub-Total	37
WHB	University College, Galway	36
	Portiuncula, Ballinasloe	3
	Mayo General	12
	Sub-Total	51
	Total	520