Vol. 566 No. 1
75 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children his plans to ensure the availability of extra hospital beds having regard to the optimum number required under various headings to meet the requirements of the current and growing population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11606/03]
During 2000-01 my Department, in conjunction with the Department of Finance and in consultation with the social partners, conducted a comprehensive review of acute hospital bed capacity needs. The Government decided, on foot of the report entitled Acute Hospital Bed Capacity – A National Review, to provide an additional 3,000 beds in acute hospitals over the next ten years.
Last year, I announced the first phase of these additional beds with the commissioning of an extra 709 beds in acute hospitals, which represents a 6% increase in capacity. I am pleased to inform the House that 520 of these beds are in operation and the remaining beds will be brought into use shortly. My Department is currently examining the regional issues associated with the allocation of the remainder of the 3,000 acute beds.
