Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2004
396 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will give details of the number of persons moved from acute hospital to step down accommodation in the ERHA and SHB areas in 2003 under the bed capacity initiative; the average cost in 2003; and the projected carryover cost of continued support of these patients in 2004. [5949/04]
View answer397 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children the details of the distribution of the €12.5 million proposed for the bed capacity initiative in 2004 across health; and his estimate of the number of new patients who can be moved from hospitals to step down facilities in 2004. [5950/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 396 and 397 together.
In July 2003, I made additional funding of €5.5 million available to the Eastern Regional Health Authority, €3.8 million, and the Southern Health Board, €1.7 million, to allow them access appropriate care package for patients occupying acute beds but whose acute phase of treatment was over. The operational capacity of acute hospitals in the Dublin and Cork areas in particular are restricted by the continued occupancy of beds by patients who could be discharged if appropriate facilities were available elsewhere. The full year cost of this initiative is €12.6 million, of which €8.8 million is available to the ERHA and €3.8 million to the Southern Health Board. My Department has asked the chief executive officers of the Southern Health Board and the ERHA to provide the most up-to-date position to the Deputy in relation tothe number of persons to benefit from this initiative.
