Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2017
1212. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if recent newspaper reports that he plans to build three new public hospitals which would carry out only non-emergency operations are accurate; the number of beds that would be provided by such hospitals; the general regional location of each hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38394/17]
View answerMy recent comments in relation to the need for new hospital facilities were simply an acknowledgement that our hospital services are under increasing pressure. It is clear that those pressures are only going to increase as our population continues to grow and age. It is also clear that there is a continuing tension within our hospital services between elective and emergency activities with hospitals drawing on the same finite resources. I believe there is merit in the concept of elective-only hospitals, and that this is the international experience, for example in Scotland. This concept would align with the current work on progressing a strategic and integrated service delivery approach at Hospital Group level, and the recommendations of the Slaintecare report and will be given further consideration.
As the Deputy is aware, my Department is currently undertaking a capacity review. The review is examining key elements of primary and community care capacity in addition to hospital capacity. Stakeholder consultation and international benchmarking are two important parts of the process. The outcomes of the review will provide a basis for determining the extent of capacity requirements over the next 15 years and the type of capacity that is needed at a national and regional level. I expect the review to be advanced sufficiently to inform the mid-term review of the capital programme and the development of the new 10 year capital plan later this year.
