Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 December 2018
142. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the additional resources in terms of additional staff and beds required for emergency departments to meet the six hour target for admission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50797/18]
View answerAs Minister for Health, I fully recognise that hospitals are increasingly operating at or above capacity, with year-round demand pressures that are further challenged over the winter months.
The Health Service Capacity Review baseline forecast is for a sharp rise in the capacity needed across all sectors by 2031 to meet the projected demand for services in the years ahead. This includes an additional 7,150 extra hospital beds in public hospitals by 2031. Of course, investment without reform will not deliver the health service we aspire to. Health and well being initiatives, recalibration towards community care, especially for older people and productivity improvements are the three key aspects of a reformed health system. Full implementation of all three reforms would alter the capacity needed across all sectors by 2031 and would reduce the additional acute capacity required to 2,600 extra hospital beds.
Furthermore, the Health Service Capacity Review outlined that many hospitals are running at over 95% bed occupancy rates and an additional 1,260 beds in the system would be required to reduce occupancy rates to 85%. The review, drawing on international evidence indicates that high bed occupancy is associated with a number of adverse factors including reduced efficiency in patient flow. Improved efficiency in patient flow is one of the key reforms identified in the Capacity Review that will lead to improved patient experience times in our hospital Emergency Departments.
The National Development Plan provides for a major increase of 2,600 in bed capacity in the next 10 years and increasing bed capacity will remain a priority in 2019. Over the past 12 months, an additional 240 beds have been opened and the 2019 National Service Plan will include the details on the sites for investment and the associated number of beds, as part of an agreed capacity programme for 2019. This process is subject to financial, operational, human resource and policy considerations and priorities.
