Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 February 2021
956. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of beds, by bed type, in each hospital by hospital group on 1 January 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10077/21]
View answer958. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the target number of beds, by bed type, in each hospital by hospital group for 31 December 2021 as funded in Budget 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10079/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 956 and 958 together.
Significant progress has been made in the ten months since the start of the COVID 19 pandemic in relation to the funding and provision of additional hospital beds. The Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, commits to continuing investment in our health care services in line with the recommendations of the Health Service Capacity Review and the commitments in Project Ireland 2040.
The Health Service Capacity Review 2018 found that the net requirement in combination with health system reform is for an additional 2,590 hospital beds by 2031 (2,100 inpatient, 300 day case and 190 critical care). The National Development Plan provides for the addition of the full 2,590 beds by 2027.
The Department of Health is working with the HSE to increase acute capacity in hospitals throughout the country to meet this and other health demands. Government allocated €236 million revenue and €40 million capital expenditure as part of Budget 2021 to fund additional acute beds on a permanent basis. This funding will provide, by the end of 2021, an additional 1,146 acute beds (excluding critical care beds). As part of this, over 400 beds, opened in 2019/2020 on a temporary basis, will remain open on a permanent basis.
In relation to the particular queries raised regarding the target number of beds at the end of 2021 and the number of beds in the system on the 1st of January 2021 by site, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
