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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 9 Oct 2003

Vol. 572 No. 2

Written Answers. - Hospital Accommodation.

Willie Penrose

Question:

31 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Health and Children the total number of the 709 additional hospital beds that were to have been provided in 2001 that have been provided to date; the total number of hospital beds that have been closed since the publication of the Government's national health strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22528/03]

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, ERHA, and the health boards that, to date, 568 of these beds have been commissioned.

It is a feature of all acute hospital systems that some beds are out of use for short periods. Bed closures may arise for a variety of reasons and may fluctuate over time. My Department routinely collects information on beds not in use in acute hospitals from health agencies on a quarterly basis. In 2002 acute hospital bed closures resulted from ward refurbishment, essential ward maintenance, staff leave, seasonal closures and as a consequence of the winter vomiting bug. The total bed days lost in 2002 as a result of these closures is equivalent to a daily average of 269 beds being closed which represents approximately 2% of the overall available capacity. The equivalent percentage for 2001 was also 2%.
Some hospitals, particularly in the Dublin region, have temporarily closed some beds in 2003 as a result of resource limitations in order to remain within budget. These closures are in addition to the normal seasonal closures that take place in hospitals around the country during holiday periods. Data collected for the period January-March 2003 shows that 23,413 bed days were lost due to some beds not being available for use. This is equivalent to a daily average of 260 beds being temporarily out of use in the period.
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