Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2020
407. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 752 of 3 June 2020, if the 11,907 beds referenced are all in the public and voluntary hospital system; and the hospitals that these beds are in, in tabular form. [11675/20]
View answerI regret that I have been advised by the HSE that due to an error the figure of 11,907 which was previously provided should have read 11,597. I confirm that the figure of 11,597 beds includes capacity in public and voluntary hospitals only, excluding critical care beds and day beds. This includes 324 beds funded in March 2020 in response to the Covid 19 pandemic, some of which are located off the acute hospital campus.
It should be noted that this is the total current bed capacity. However beds are unavailable when they are temporarily closed for reasons such as infection control, maintenance/refurbishment, or staffing shortages.
With regard to the Deputy's request of a breakdown by site, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
