Tom Hayes
Question:89 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Health and Children the impact the new health structures will have on the number of acute beds in the health service. [17571/03]
Written Answers. - Health Service Reform.
Simon Coveney
Question:96 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for Health and Children the impact the new health structures will have on the number of respite care places available in the health service. [17579/03]
Damien English
Question:110 Mr. English asked the Minister for Health and Children the impact which the new health structures will have on the number of step-down rehabilitative beds in the health service. [17565/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 89, 96 and 110 together.
The health service reform programme was announced on 18 June 2003. The programme's priority focus is improved patient care, better value for taxpayers' money and improved health care management. The reform programme has drawn on the conclusions and recommendations of the two reports, the Commission on Financial Management and Control Systems in the Health Service and the Audit of Structures and Functions in the Heath System, which were published on the same day. The reports and the health service reform programme do not deal with the impact that the new health structures will have on the number of acute beds, respite care places and step-down rehabilitative beds in the health service.
The Government decided in the context of the health strategy, Quality and Fairness: A Health System for You, to provide an additional 3,000 beds in acute hospitals over the period to 2011. The decision to increase the number of beds in acute hospitals was taken on foot of a detailed national review of bed capacity undertaken by the Department of Health and Children. The review clearly identified the need to increase acute bed capacity, and meeting this need continues to be a priority for the acute hospital system. In January 2002, I announced the commissioning of an additional 709 acute hospital beds. To date 551 of these beds are in place and it is envisaged that the remaining beds will be brought on stream before the end of 2003.
Services for older people were reviewed and proposals developed with the objective of bringing the service up to an acceptable level on a phased basis. The health strategy outlined improvements in community, hospital, residential and respite care. To date, additional revenue funding for the development of services for older people has increased significantly from €12.7 million in 1997 to an additional €87.807 million in 2002, including nursing home subvention funding. In excess of €270 million additional funding has been provided for services for older people from 1997 to date. This has resulted in more than 1,000 additional staff being recruited. Between 1998 and 2001, more than 550 additional beds have been provided in new community nursing units and more than 1,250 day places per week have been provided in new day care centres.
In relation to services for people with intellectual disabilities, the provision of additional respite care services has been one of the priority areas specifically targeted for development in recent years. For example, around 465 dedicated respite places were put in place for people with intellectual disability and those with autism between 1999 and 2002. The further enhancement of respite care and other supports for people with disabilities and their families continues to be one of the priority within those services.
In relation to rehabilitative beds, effective rehabilitation draws on a broad range of services to meet the particular needs of patients, with the objective of helping patients return to normal life in the community. I am aware that there are serious shortcomings in the present range of services available for people with severe disabilities and those with acquired brain injuries in a number of health board areas. It is estimated that there are more than 900 people inappropriately placed in acute hospitals or nursing homes who require step-down rehabilitation beds.
A number of health boards are examining the possibility of developing residential units for these clients, either by the health board itself or in partnership with voluntary agencies such as the Cheshire Foundation of Ireland. In addition, as set out in the health strategy, Quality and Fairness: A Health System For You, my Department is carrying out a review, in consultation with the relevant stakeholders, of the current rehabilitation services available.