Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 May 2018
353. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of additional staff by category required to meet additional acute bed targets annually in the coming five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20868/18]
View answerThe Health Services Capacity Review 2018 forecasts future capacity requirements in acute hospitals, primary care and in services for older persons (residential and homecare services) for the period to 2031.
The Capacity Review forecasts that the following additional acute hospital beds will be required by 2021 if reforms are implemented:
|
Bed Type |
2016 baseline |
2021 Requirements |
|
Inpatient |
10,500 |
11,900 |
|
Day |
2,140 |
2,300 |
|
Adult Critical Care |
240 |
330 |
|
Acute Medical Unit |
430 |
420 |
Workforce requirements will need to take account of the nature of the additional hospital beds (Day Care, In-Patient, Intensive/Critical Care) and the relevant clinical specialties.
Given the timelines in which the Capacity Review had to be conducted in order to inform the new National Development Plan, it was not possible to include a full workforce planning exercise within the scope of the Review. In particular, corresponding workforce projections for additional acute hospital capacity were not included. The Capacity Review report makes this clear.
The National Strategic Framework for Health and Social Care Workforce Planning, which was launched in November 2017, will support an approach to workforce planning that will enable the recruitment and retention of the right mix of health workers, across the health system.
Effective workforce planning and appropriate resourcing of health services will also be a key enabler of Sláintecare reforms. This will be addressed in the Sláintecare Implementation Plan which is expected to be brought to Government shortly.
These initiatives, in tandem with the findings of the Capacity Review, will provide a robust framework within which workforce planning and assessment can be undertaken on an ongoing basis.
