Vol. 562 No. 4
349 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if his Department will assist Beaumont Hospital with its recent problems, that is, shortage of beds and overcrowding in the accident and emergency department. [6456/03]
Responsibility for the funding of services at Beaumont Hospital rests with the Eastern Regional Health Authority. The ERHA is currently in discussion with all health service providers within its region, including Beaumont Hospital, to finalise the level of services to be provided in 2003. These discussions are expected to conclude within the next two weeks.
I accept that there is pressure on capacity in Beaumont Hospital, as in all major acute hospitals. An additional 35 beds are being provided at the hospital under the Government's bed capacity initiative. The revenue funding for these additional beds has already been notified to the Eastern Regional Health Authority. The hospital has advised that these additional beds will come on stream in the near future.
