Hospital Accommodation.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 October 2004

Thursday, 28 October 2004

Questions (8)

Joe Costello

Question:

8 Mr. Costello asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to recent figures provided by the Eastern Regional Health Authority showing that the average number of hospital beds available in the Mater Hospital declined from 530 in 2001 to 455 in the first quarter of 2004, a drop of 15%, and that in the same period the average number of beds closed increased from just six in 2002 to 42 in 2003 and 37 in the first quarter of 2004; the steps that are being taken to address this situation, especially in view of the ongoing problems in the Mater accident and emergency department in which patients are backed up on trolleys awaiting beds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26334/04]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

Services at the Mater Hospital are provided under an arrangement with the Eastern Regional Health Authority.

My attention has been drawn to the figure of 530 beds in 2001 which was provided recently. This comprised a complement of 482 in-patient beds and 48 day beds. This breakdown was not made clear at the time. My Department is assured by the authority that the bed complement in the Mater Hospital has not been reduced since 2001. The current bed complement at the Mater Hospital is 556 beds, comprising 503 in-patient beds and 53 day beds. However, as the Deputy will be aware, it is a feature of all acute hospital systems that some beds are out of use from time to time.

I am assured that there are no beds closed for financial reasons. The closures here arose for infection control reasons and because of difficulties in recruiting staff.