Tuesday, 27 Jul 2021

Written Answers Nos. 1850-1874

Health Services Staff

Questions (1850)

David Cullinane

Question:

1850. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the cost of ten whole time equivalent lactation consultants. [35650/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.

Health Services

Questions (1851)

David Cullinane

Question:

1851. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the average cost of contracting a community bed from a private facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35651/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.

Health Services

Questions (1852)

David Cullinane

Question:

1852. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the capital and revenue cost of a new step-down bed. [35652/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.

Question No. 1853 answered with Question No. 1757.

Budget 2021

Questions (1854)

David Cullinane

Question:

1854. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the additional funding allocated in budget 2021 to the women’s health taskforce; and the areas in which and items it was spent on. [35654/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Progressing women’s health is a priority for this government. We made a strong commitment to Promoting Women’s Health in the Programme for Government and are fully committed to the development and improvement of Women’s Health services and to working with women and girls to improve their health across the whole life cycle.

Underscoring the government’s commitment to Women’s Health has been the establishment of a Women’s Health Taskforce in September 2019 to improve both health outcomes and experiences of healthcare for women and girls. The members of the Taskforce meet regularly, with its thirteenth meeting held this week. The Women’s Health Taskforce continues to work with the National Women’s Council of Ireland and the European Institute of Women’s Health to prioritise different issues each year with the aim of improving women’s health outcomes and experiences of healthcare. Critical to this work is the process of listening to women - the Taskforce has so far listened to, engaged with and worked with more than 1,000 women and hundreds of organisations representing women and girls across the country.

Based on this information, the Taskforce has developed proposals to improve supports for gynaecological health, mental health, physical activity, and menopause all of which are rolling out this year and next year.

Budget 2021 has provided a dedicated €5million Women’s Health Fund to implement a programme of actions arising from the work of the Taskforce. The first two proposals to be supported under the Women's Health Fund are:

- Two community-based Ambulatory Gynaecology Services in Tallaght and Limerick/Nenagh, with an associated cost of €1.415million

The provision of two community-based Ambulatory Gynaecology Services governed by two acute hospitals (Tallaght University Hospital, and University Maternity Hospital Limerick, though located in Nenagh General Hospital) under the banner of the Women’s Health Taskforce. This project, with an associated cost of €1.415m, will see the establishment of one-stop “see and treat” gynaecology clinics in the community in which women can be seen and assessed, following referral by their GP to the hospital’s general gynaecology services. This service will address a clear and identified need, as gynaecology services are acknowledged and recognised as being a service area that continues to be under significant and growing pressure. These one-stop-see-and-treat clinics will play a significant role to improve access to gynaecology, reducing waiting times and improving clinical outcomes for women.

- Expansion of the endometriosis service at Tallaght University Hospital, with an associated cost of €641k.

The second area to be funded is the expansion of the endometriosis service at Tallaght University Hospital (TUH), with an associated cost of €641k, will deliver a specialist endometriosis centre for the management and treatment of all forms of endometriosis, with particular focus on advanced and complex cases for which there is no ready access in Ireland. Endometriosis is estimated to affect 1 in 10 women and represents one of the top four categories of symptoms that comprise approximately 80% of gynaecology referrals. The provision of a secure, supported, expanded and specialist service in Tallaght University Hospital will help to improve both clinical outcomes and overall care experience for women suffering from this debilitating condition.

In addition, our Radical Listening exercise, which has been held to hear the voices of women on their health, to understand their perspectives on health and wellbeing, how those perspectives were shaped, and to understand the forces that shape health outcomes for women. Elements of the Radical Listening exercise have been funded under this Women's Health Fund, with an associated cost of €40k.

Engagement is ongoing with Dept. of Health and HSE stakeholders to finalise further activities to be implemented under the Women’s Health Fund in 2021. A number of proposals are in different stages of finalisation and approval, which will be announced shortly and which will consolidate and drive impact for women in the coming months.

Budget 2021

Questions (1855)

David Cullinane

Question:

1855. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the additional funding allocated in budget 2021 to palliative care strategy; and the areas in which and items it was spent on. [35655/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

A total of €117m has been allocated in the HSE's National Service Plan 2021 for palliative care services, which represents an increase of 15.2% or €15.4m on the 2020 palliative care budget. The increased level of funding in 2021 demonstrates the Government's commitment to improving access to palliative care and end of life care services for people with life limiting conditions and their families.

The additional €15.4m in funding for palliative care comprises:

- €7.7m to address financial sustainability challenges in the voluntary hospice sector;

- €5.7m to meet the full year cost of developments commenced in 2020, including an additional 55 hospice beds in Mayo, Wicklow, Kildare and Waterford, all of which are open except the 20 bed unit in Waterford which is due to come on stream in September 2021; and

- an additional €2m to expand the children’s palliative care programme, which includes support for LauraLynn Children’s Hospice.

Health Services

Questions (1856)

David Cullinane

Question:

1856. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of providing a European health insurance card to all Irish citizens resident in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35656/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The cost of an EHIC to a State depends on a number of variables which differ from State to State, for example:

- whether the State reimburses on an average costs (based on the costs in their own State), or actual costs, basis,

- the level of usage of the EHIC by any particular population or cohort within a State,

- the States most commonly visited, etc..

Neither my officials, nor the HSE, have access to this data for Northern Ireland (NI).

However, the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) between the EU and the UK provides for a continuation of healthcare rights when on a temporary stay in a State covered by the Agreement. Under the TCA it is only a person’s competent State that can issue them with ‘an entitlement document’, in the case of the UK a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), to allow them to access these healthcare rights. The State which issues the relevant GHIC\EHIC is the State in which a person makes their social security contribution or receives a social security contributory payment.

Furthermore, under the Agreement, residents of the UK, including Northern Ireland, can continue to use their current UK EHIC to access necessary care while on a temporary stay in an EU Member State, until the card reaches its expiry date. At that point, residents of Northern Ireland may obtain a new Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), issued by the UK Government. Further information can be found on the NHS website, on how residents of Northern Ireland can apply for a new GHIC.

Also, in certain circumstances, persons who are frontier workers will be entitled to an EHIC under the terms of the EU UK Withdrawal Agreement.

The Government continues to recognise the importance placed on continued access to EHIC rights for the people of Northern Ireland. We are pleased therefore, that healthcare rights are maintained under the Agreement for persons resident in the UK, including Northern Ireland, when on a temporary stay in an EU Member State.

Budget 2021

Questions (1857)

David Cullinane

Question:

1857. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the additional funding allocated in budget 2021 to the Health Research Board; and the way in which it was spent. [35657/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Health Research Board (HRB) is the State Agency under the Department of Health that supports and funds health and social care research and provides evidence to inform policy and practice. During 2021 the HRB published its new 2021-2025 strategy with the vision of “Better health through excellent research, data and evidence.”

Budget 2021 provided a core allocation (net non-capital expenditure allocation) for the HRB of €34.954m for 2021. This is an increase on 2020 of €0.55m. This funding will support initiatives, under the direction of the HRB Board, aligned with the strategic objectives and key actions set out in the HRB Strategy (2021-2025).

In addition, a further €7.26m is provided for non-core funding under Budget 2021, an increase of over €1m. Within this the actual composition of spend will change from year to year, with some projects finishing and new projects being added. As a result, the net change in the 2021 non-core allocation is less than the total allocations approved for new initiatives, or increases to existing initiatives.

Allocations approved for new initiatives or increases to existing initiatives in non-core allocations include:

- An extra €2m funding to support dedicated Covid-19-related research, a priority is to complete an application and peer review process to establish and maintain a National Covid-19 biobank in line with best international standards and practice.

- An extra €0.8m to support legislative requirements. This includes (a) an extra €0.75m to advance the urgent work programme of Office for National Research Ethics Committees in 2021, in particular the establishment of National Research Ethics Committees to ensure compliance for the ethical review of proposals falling under the Clinical Trials Directive of Medicinal Products and the Medical Devices Directive, and (b) an extra €0.35m to support the costs of the Health Research Consent Declaration Committee.

- An extra €0.06m to support the conduct of a follow-on survey on the impact of Covid-19 in people with intellectual disability (under the Intellectual Disability Supplement to TILDA IDS-TILDA).

Budget 2021 also allowed for the funding of €0.6m in support of the 2020 Government decision for Ireland’s participation in the WHO SOLIDARITY Trial of Covid-19 treatments. This reflected the cost of participation up until end March 2021 and built on previous funding provided by the Department in 2020 of €1.4m.

Budget 2021

Questions (1858)

David Cullinane

Question:

1858. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the additional funding allocated in budget 2021 to the Institute of Public Health; and the way in which it was spent. [35658/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

€1.377m was allocated to the Institute of Public Health in 2021. This funding will be used to further the Strategic Objectives identified by the Institute for implementation from 2020 – 2025. These are:

- understanding what works - research and evidence review

- optimising impact and assessment - policy analysis and evaluation

- working together to improve outcomes North and South by island of Ireland partnership

- sharing knowledge and communicating the value of public health

- organisational excellence - setting and meeting high standards

The final position on the breakdown of the spend will be available at the end of year.

Question No. 1859 answered with Question No. 1757.

Budget 2021

Questions (1860)

David Cullinane

Question:

1860. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the additional funding allocated in budget 2021 to Health Ireland; and the way in which it was spent. [35660/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Healthy Ireland Fund was established in 2017. This amount of funding increased to €10 million in 2021. Elements of the Fund are managed by Pobal on behalf of the Department to fund the delivery of local actions in key national Healthy Ireland policy areas. Healthy Ireland also supports a number of key national initiatives, including –

- Active School Flag, - ‘Healthy Ireland at Your Library’ initiative, - Healthy Clubs and Healthy Campuses initiatives, - Healthy Workplace Framework, - Healthy Ireland Survey, and - Initiatives for increasing in physical activity in the community, in partnership with Sport Ireland. A significant portion of the additional funding in 2021 was provided for Phase 1 of the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme, which seeks to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals in the most disadvantaged areas by addressing the wider determinants of health. The Programme is due to launch in Q4 2021. The final position on the breakdown of the spend will be available at the end of year.

Budget 2021

Questions (1861)

David Cullinane

Question:

1861. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the additional funding allocated in Budget 2021 to general practitioner diagnostics; and the way in which it was spent. [35661/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

In Budget 2021, significant investment of €25m was allocated to implement a programme of structured access to diagnostics services for GPs. The aim of this initiative is to address the situation whereby patients can be inappropriately referred to hospital Emergency or Outpatient Departments to access diagnostics, thus exacerbating ED overcrowding or necessitating excessive waiting times for patients to access the required scans.

The GP Access to Diagnostics Scheme was successfully launched in January of this year. As of the most recently available data from the HSE in early May, there had been a total of 22,051 scans of various modalities provided. Almost 70% of these were MRI scans, over 16% were X-Rays, just over 9% were CT scans and slightly over 4% were DEXA scans.

The very latest information on the scheme is unfortunately not available due to the ongoing effects of the recent cyber-attack on the HSE’s ICT systems. However, the number of scans and tests which have been provided at this date can be expected to be significantly higher than the May figures, particularly as the service is currently available to the full population.

Health Services Staff

Questions (1862)

David Cullinane

Question:

1862. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of 50 new healthcare assistant posts. [35662/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.

Health Services Staff

Questions (1863)

David Cullinane

Question:

1863. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of 50 new consultant posts. [35663/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.

Healthcare Policy

Questions (1864)

David Cullinane

Question:

1864. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the digital modernisation programmes which the health service is currently rolling out; the progress of each; the additional cost for full implementation of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35664/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

A list of Health Service Executive (HSE) eHealth and ICT projects, together with details of funding provision made has been published in the HSE Service Plan 2021, a copy of which is provided for ease of reference.

National Service Plan

The Deputy will be aware that HSE ICT systems were shutdown and HSE resources have been diverted to contain and respond to the recent cyberattack on the HSE. Focus has been on the resumption of services and HSE systems. The effect of the cyberattack on the delivery of previously planned eHealth and ICT developments in the HSE are yet to be ascertained.

In addition to planned developments in the HSE, there are a number of ICT projects currently in progress for 6 of the Voted agencies under the remit of the Department of Health, funding and status for which are as follows:

Each agency has a number of new and existing digital modernisation programmes for 2021 and have been approved by DPER as follows:

CORU €299,100

FSAI €1,170,000

HIQA €10,588,140

HRB €253,217

MHC €402,188

NCRI €312,085

Healthcare Policy

Questions (1865)

David Cullinane

Question:

1865. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of implanting unique patient identifiers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35665/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As a multi annual programme of work, the Individual Health Identifier (IHI) is a key enabler for integrated care and eHealth and supports good clinical outcomes through the unique and safe identification of patients who interact with the health system.

In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, the planned implementation of the IHI to many national systems was paused and instead, priority for IHI implementation was switched to the use in the Covid Track and Trace and Covid Vaccination Systems.

In that context, a capital funding allocation of €1,955,443 and a revenue funding allocation of €2,234,968 has been provided to the HSE in 2021 for the implementation of the IHI.

Budget 2021

Questions (1866)

David Cullinane

Question:

1866. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the additional funding allocated in budget 2021 to the healthy Ireland fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35666/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Healthy Ireland Fund was established in 2017. This amount of funding increased to €10 million in 2021. Elements of the Fund are managed by Pobal on behalf of the Department to fund the delivery of local actions in key national Healthy Ireland policy areas.

Healthy Ireland also supports a number of key national initiatives, including–- Active School Flag, - ‘Healthy Ireland at Your Library’ initiative, - Healthy Clubs and Healthy Campuses initiatives, - Healthy Workplace Framework, - Healthy Ireland Survey, and - Initiatives for increasing in physical activity in the community, in partnership with Sport Ireland.

A significant portion of the additional funding in 2021 was provided for Phase 1 of the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme, which seeks to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals in the most disadvantaged areas by addressing the wider determinants of health. The Programme is due to launch in Q4 2021.

The final position on the breakdown of the spend will be available at the end of year.

Budget 2021

Questions (1867)

David Cullinane

Question:

1867. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the additional funding provided in budget 2021 for the national maternity strategy. [35667/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Women’s health is a priority for me and for this Government and one of the cornerstones in advancing women’s health is the National Maternity Strategy. This year my Department allocated very significant new development funding of €7.317m to implement the Strategy . This funding aims to ensure a renewed impetus to the implementation of the Strategy, and the ongoing roll out of the Strategy’s new model of maternity care. Specifically, the funding is designed to:

- further develop community-based midwifery services including enhancing postnatal care and early transfer home services;

- expand breastfeeding supports;

- address deficits identified in HIQA inspection reports; and

- improve specialist services, including obstetric, endocrinology, perinatal pathology, neonatology and perineal services;

- improve access to allied health professional services and supports; and

- strengthen training and education supports (e.g. CTG training).

Budget 2021

Questions (1868)

David Cullinane

Question:

1868. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the additional funding provided in Budget 2021 for the national trauma strategy; and the way in which it was used. [35668/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The National Trauma Strategy recommended the introduction of an inclusive trauma system delivered by two regional networks, each with a Major Trauma Centre linked to a number of Trauma Units. The strategy recommended the Major Trauma Centres be based in Dublin and in Cork (Cork University Hospital). In April 2021, Government designated the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital as the Major Trauma Centre for the Central Trauma Network and St Vincent’s and Tallaght University Hospitals as the Trauma Units for Dublin.

€6m in development funding has been made available in Budget 2021 to support the implementation of the National Trauma Strategy, of which:

- €5.7m was allocated to commence the initial phase of development of the Major Trauma Centre at the Mater Hospital, and

- €0.3m was allocated to commence development of planned trauma care in the South Trauma Network at Cork University Hospital

Through implementation of the Trauma Strategy trauma services be networked and co-ordinated along standardised pathways to ensure that the right care is delivered in the right place at the right time.

Budget 2021

Questions (1869)

David Cullinane

Question:

1869. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the additional funding provided in budget 2021 for the national dementia strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35669/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

A key commitment in the Programme for Government is the implementation of the Irish National Dementia Strategy, which aims to improve how we provide care for people living with dementia. The National Dementia Office, established within the HSE, oversees implementation of the Strategy.

As set out in the National Service Plan 2021, additional funding of €12.9 million has been allocated to further the National Dementia Strategy this year. This allocation is made up of the following key elements:

- €7m to fund 250,000 hours of home support for people living with dementia;

- €0.9m to expand the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland Dementia Advisor Service through recruiting an additional 11 dementia advisors, resulting in a total of 29 nationally by the end of the year;

- €5m for a range of measures to enhance services and supports for people with dementia. These measures include:

(a) the further development of dementia diagnostic services through the establishment of a specialist memory clinic in Cork and progressing four new regional memory assessment and support services;

(b) enhancing acute care pathways for people with dementia through the recruitment of more clinical nurse specialists;

(c) the implementation of a National Clinical Guideline on the appropriate prescribing of psychotropic medication for non-cognitive symptoms in people with dementia;

(d) enhancing Memory Technology Resource Room services in 9 sites;

(e) provision of in-home day care for people who were impacted by the suspension of day care services during the COVID-19 pandemic; and

(f) continuation of the Dementia Understand Together Campaign.

Health Services Staff

Questions (1870)

David Cullinane

Question:

1870. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of 50 new nursing posts. [35670/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.

Health Services Staff

Questions (1871)

David Cullinane

Question:

1871. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of 50 new midwife posts. [35671/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.

Health Services

Questions (1872)

David Cullinane

Question:

1872. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of acute inpatient beds funded in budget 2021 that have been delivered and that are expected to be delivered by year end. [35673/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Department of Health is working with the HSE to increase acute capacity in hospitals throughout the country. The Government allocated €236 million revenue and €40 million capital expenditure as part of Budget 2021 to fund 1,146 additional acute beds on a permanent basis by the end of 2021 (excluding critical care beds). A number of beds have been postponed for operational reasons, giving a new target of 1,063.

As of the 6th of May, the HSE has reported that 834 of these beds had opened. This represents a significant step towards achieving the recommendations in the 2018 Health Service Capacity Review.

With regard to the number of beds that have opened since, as this relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.

Health Services

Questions (1873)

David Cullinane

Question:

1873. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of ICU beds funded in budget 2021 that have been delivered and are expected to be delivered by year end. [35674/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

At the start of last year, permanent adult critical care capacity was 255 beds, according to the National Office of Clinical Audit. Funding for 40 additional beds was provided in March 2020, initially on a temporary basis, as part of the response to Covid-19.

The Strategic Plan for Critical Care aims to bring permanent capacity to 321 by the end of 2021 and to 446 in the longer term. Budget 2021 allocated €52m to the implementation of this Strategic Plan. This will retain permanently the 40 beds provided in 2020 and will add further new build capacity to bring baseline permanent capacity to 321 beds by year end. This funding also allows for workforce planning and education initiatives to grow the critical care workforce.

The HSE's Critical Care Programme has advised that 42 of the 66 beds funded for 2021 are now permanently in place. The number of beds open on any given day fluctuates as a result of a variety of factors. Recruitment and capital works are ongoing to open the remaining beds as soon as possible.

Health Services

Questions (1874)

David Cullinane

Question:

1874. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the revenue cost estimate for each bed type, that is, acute inpatient bed, ICU bed, sub-acute bed and community bed, by cost type. [35675/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

In relation to the particular query raised, as this relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.

Pending this we have provided an interim response below:

The HSE advised in 2019, that the average daily running cost of an in-patient hospital bed across acute hospitals is €878 per night.

In relation to capital expenditure, several factors determine the capital cost of a hospital bed. These include the nature of the bed (day case, in-patient/overnight, intensive/critical care, etc.), and the bed’s location (within an existing hospital, within a new extension to an existing hospital or through the development of a new hospital). As such, there is no one capital cost for providing an additional hospital bed. A review of acute hospital beds currently in construction or recently completed determined an estimated average capital cost per bed of €375,000, including some enabling costs.

However, these figures do not represent or imply a universal capital cost for hospital beds. Larger projects will require additional developments on acute hospital sites (for instance the installation of bigger kitchens, OPD, utility enhancements or relocation of services) which would incur additional costs.

Regarding the estimated annual per unit cost of permanently adding additional ICU beds to the public health system, the cost of a critical care bed has several determining factors. The HSE has advised that a new critical care bed will typically cost between €1m and €1.5m, depending on a variety of factors, including design, construction, equipping and all other associated capital costs. The HSE has advised that the average annual cost of running a critical care bed has been estimated by the HPO, based on 2018 data, to be €747k per annum. However, it should be noted that this figure includes costs for both ICU and HDU beds, with the ICU beds the more expensive of the two.

In regards to the Intermediary Care bed scheme (Budget: €125m)

Private beds: There is a budget of €29m for this, to April the spend is €9.5m. The average cost per bed is €1,300 per week however there are some more specific service provision beds that cost more.

Acute Beds: The budget is €20m for 159 beds at an average cost of €2,500.

Community beds: This information is not currently available- data has been sought from HSE in relation to the cost of community beds.