Richard Bruton
Question:406 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children the location of the extra 750 beds which he promised to open in the course of 2002, indicating in each case the progress that has been made. [21941/03]
Vol. 571 No. 4
406 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children the location of the extra 750 beds which he promised to open in the course of 2002, indicating in each case the progress that has been made. [21941/03]
Following a comprehensive review of acute hospital bed capacity needs, the Government decided, in the context of the health strategy, to provide an additional 3,000 beds in acute hospitals by 2011, with 450 additional public beds to be in place by the end of 2002. I introduced the first phase of this process in January 2002 which provided funding for an additional 709 acute beds. My Department has been informed by the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards that, to date, 568 of these beds have been commissioned. The following table provides a full listing of the hospitals in which the 568 additional beds were commissioned.
Health Board |
Hospital |
No. ofBeds |
ERHA |
St. James |
74 |
Temple Street |
15 |
|
St. Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park Incorporating St. |
42 |
|
Michael's Dún Laoghaire |
||
Naas General |
61 |
|
Beaumont |
28 |
|
St. Joseph's |
33 |
|
Adelaide and Meath HospitalIncorporating the National Children's Hospital, Tallaght |
7 |
|
Sub-Total |
260 |
|
MWHB |
Limerick Regional |
55 |
Croom Orthopaedic |
17 |
|
Nenagh Regional |
6 |
|
Sub-Total |
78 |
|
NEHB |
Our Lady's, Navan |
14 |
Louth County |
14 |
|
Sub-Total |
28 |
|
NWHB |
Sligo General |
30 |
Letterkenny General |
8 |
|
Sub-Total |
38 |
Health Board |
Hospital |
No. ofBeds |
SEHB |
Wexford General |
10 |
Lourdes Orthopaedic, Kilcreene |
28 |
|
Waterford Regional |
24 |
|
St. Lukes, Kilkenny |
14 |
|
Sub-Total |
76 |
|
SHB |
Tralee General |
16 |
Mercy |
13 |
|
Bantry General |
8 |
|
Sub-Total |
37 |
|
WHB |
University College, Galway |
36 |
Portiuncula, Ballinasloe |
3 |
|
Mayo General |
12 |
|
Sub-Total |
51 |
|
Total |
568 |
407 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has sought or received information on the number of beds closed within acute hospitals in Dublin during 2003 to date; the bed days lost in each hospital; and the reason for the closure in each case. [21942/03]
My Department routinely collects information on beds not in use in acute hospitals from health agencies on a quarterly basis. Bed closures may arise for a variety of reasons including ward refurbishment, essential ward maintenance, seasonal closures, staff leave and/or resource limitations, and may fluctuate over time. The detailed information requested, as reported to my Department by the Eastern Regional Health Authority, is being supplied separately to the Deputy.