Hospital Beds Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 January 2019

Thursday, 17 January 2019

Questions (157, 158)

Michael Harty

Question:

157. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health the type and location of the extra beds added to the health service in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2133/19]

Michael Harty

Question:

158. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health the type and location of beds he plans to open during the course of 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2134/19]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 157 and 158 together.

As Minister for Health, I recognise that hospitals are increasingly operating at or above capacity, with year-round demand pressures that are further challenged over the winter months. It is against this background that the Health Service Capacity Review 2018 recommended an increase in acute hospitals beds of over 2,600 by 2031 to support the projected increase in demand for services in the years ahead.

Increasing capacity is therefore a priority for the Government. Over the past 12 months, an additional 240 beds have been opened as outlined in the following table:

Hospital Group	Hospital	Type of bed	Number of beds
RCSI	Our Lady of Lourdes Drogheda	Acute beds (part of new bed block)	25
RCSI	Beaumont Hospital	Acute beds	20
Dublin Midlands	St James’ Hospital	Acute beds	23
Dublin Midlands	Naas General Hospital	Acute beds	11
Ireland East	The Mater Hospital	Acute beds	24
Saolta	Galway University Hospital	Acute beds	28
UL	Limerick University Hospital	Short Stay beds	17
Ireland East HG	St Vincent’s Hospital	Acute beds	22
Ireland East HG	Mater Misericordiae University Hospital	HDU beds	2
Ireland East HG	St Luke’s Hospital Kilkenny	Acute beds	14
RCSI HG	Our Lady of Lourdes Drogheda	Acute beds (part of new ward block)	4
South South West HG	Cork University Hospital	Acute beds	30
South South West HG	Cork university hospital	Critical Care beds	2
South South West HG	Waterford University Hospital	Acute beds	17
Ireland East	The Mater Hospital	ICU bed	1
Total			240

The HSE's National Service Plan for 2019 provides for a comprehensive capacity programme for 2019. The main elements of the programme are:

- 78 additional beds are scheduled to come on stream by the end of Quarter 1 of 2019, including the 40 bed modular build in South Tipperary General Hospital and the 30-bedded ward in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda;

- 75 acute beds and 70 community beds are scheduled to come on stream during 2019, as part of the Winter Plan 2018/19;

- Preparation of 202 beds, of which 16 are critical care, during 2019, with a view to bringing this extra capacity into operation in the first quarter of 2020.

In relation to the specific information sought on the location and type of beds planned for 2019, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A

Question No. 159 answered with Question No. 155.