I propose to take Questions Nos. 166 and 168 together.
The Government is committed to increasing acute hospital bed capacity as indicated in the health strategy. Since the publication of the strategy in December 2001, funding has been provided to hospitals to open an additional 900 beds. This includes the 700 beds announced in 2002 and 200 beds being provided as part of the commissioning of new units announced in September this year. The table below shows details of the position at October 2004 as regards additional acute hospital beds for which funding has been provided.
Hospital
|
Additional beds in place
|
Beds due to open
|
Beaumont/St. Joseph’s, Raheny
|
77
|
28
|
St. James’s
|
74
|
66
|
St. Vincent’s, incorporating St. Michael’s, Dún Laoghaire
|
42
|
—
|
Naas General
|
61
|
30
|
James Connolly Memorial
|
—
|
21
|
Tallaght
|
7
|
—
|
Temple Street
|
15
|
—
|
Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore
|
—
|
6
|
Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar
|
—
|
12
|
Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise
|
5
|
—
|
Mid-West Regional Hospital, Limerick
|
55
|
—
|
Croom Orthopaedic
|
17
|
—
|
Nenagh General
|
6
|
—
|
Louth General
|
14
|
—
|
Monaghan General
|
—
|
10
|
Our Lady’s Navan
|
14
|
—
|
Letterkenny General
|
8
|
—
|
Sligo General
|
30
|
—
|
Kilcreene Orthopaedic
|
28
|
—
|
St. Luke’s Kilkenny
|
14
|
—
|
Waterford Regional
|
24
|
—
|
Wexford General
|
10
|
—
|
Bantry General
|
8
|
—
|
Mercy University Hospital
|
13
|
—
|
South Infirmary / Victoria, Cork
|
—
|
35
|
Kerry General, Tralee
|
16
|
—
|
Mayo General
|
23
|
37
|
Roscommon General Hospital
|
—
|
9
|
UCHG
|
36
|
44
|
Portiucula
|
3
|
2
|
Total
|
600
|
300
|
Overall Total
|
900
|
—
|
In addition, extra beds will be provided in the new acute medical units which I announced as part of the accident and emergency services package on the publication of the Estimates for 2005.