Vol. 561 No. 1
367 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Health and Children if every accident and emergency department will have a senior admissions officer on a 24 hour basis to manage bed capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3467/03]
The hospital system in general is experiencing increased pressure on available beds due to a number of factors, including the growth of population and the increasing number of elderly people who have a higher than average length of stay. The pressure on the hospital system, and in particular on hospitals providing accident and emergency services, is most severe over the winter months. In early 2002 action was taken by nursing staff in accident and emergency departments of hospitals providing such services. Proposals put forward by the Labour Relations Commission aimed at resolving the dispute included an independent review of the bed management function in acute hospitals with accident and emergency departments. The review was commissioned by the Health Service Employers Agency and the unions representing nursing staff. Its purpose was to help to establish some of the causes of weakness in the system and to provide guidance on how these might be addressed.
The CAPITA report referred to by the Deputy is the report of this independent review and was completed on 27 January 2003. While the report is critical of certain aspects of bed management it found, in general, evidence of good bed management practices around the country. The report is designed to ensure the development of enhanced and uniform bed management practices across the hospital system. Its recommendations are at present being considered by the management and staff sides in the context of the continuing implementation of the LRC proposals. The need for extended bed management cover will fall to be considered in this context.
