Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 Nov 2003

Vol. 574 No. 1

Written Answers. - Hospital Accommodation.

Liz McManus

Question:

394 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children further to his statement that 568 new acute hospital beds have been provided, the location of these beds; the number at each location; the number of these beds which have not to date been commissioned; the reason therefor; the number of old acute beds that have been extinguished in relation to this new provision of beds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26457/03]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

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. The first phase of this process commenced in January 2002 and 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. These beds are in addition to the existing bed complement in the acute hospital system and are being funded accordingly. The following table provides a full listing of the hospitals in which the additional beds have been commissioned.

Bed Capacity Initiative

Additional Beds Commissioned 2002-2003

Health Board	Hospital	No. of Beds
ERHA	St. James	74
	Temple Street	15
	St. Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park incorporating St. Michael's Dún Laoghaire	42
	Naas General	61
	Beaumont	28
	St. Joseph's	33
	Adelaide and Meath Hospital incorporating 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
SEHB	Wexford General	10
	Lourdes Orthopaedic, Kilcreene	28
	Waterford Regional	24
	St. Luke's, Kilkenny	14
	Sub-Total	76

Health Board	Hospital	No. of Beds
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