Vol. 566 No. 1
110 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that 30,000 bed days were lost in 2002 at the Mater Hospital due to delays in the discharge of patients arising from the shortage of long-term rehabilitation and hospice beds; the steps being taken to provide such step-down facilities in order that hospital beds can be utilised to the maximum extent possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11984/03]
The provision of subacute facilities in the eastern region is a matter for the Eastern Regional Health Authority. My Department has therefore asked the regional chief executive of the Authority to examine the matters raised by the Deputy and to reply to him directly. As the Deputy may be aware, there is a commitment in the national health strategy to provide 1,370 additional assessment and rehabilitation beds and 600 additional day hospital beds, together with an extra 800 extended care-community nursing unit places per year over a seven year period.
