David Cullinane
Question:1096. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated current and capital cost of five new palliative care beds and staffing. [41767/21]
View answerThursday, 9 September 2021
Questions (1096, 1108)
David Cullinane
Question:1108. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated capital and current cost of a specialist palliative care bed. [41783/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1096 and 1108 together.
As the Deputy may be aware, to date specialist palliative care inpatient units have been constructed with funding raised by local voluntary organisations, while the HSE provides fit-out costs.
The units include space for the Palliative Community Homecare Team, Day Care, treatment rooms and pharmacy, family accommodation, kitchen and canteen, staff room, administration, education and meeting rooms and, where relevant, external groundworks/landscaping. It is not possible to provide an estimate of the cost specifically associated with each bed. However, as a guideline, it should be noted that the construction costs for a 15 bed unit average €10m, with fit-out costs in the region of €1.5m.
The revenue funding required to operate a 15 bed specialist palliative care inpatient unit is €3.8m per annum which equates to €253,000 per bed per year.
Finally, a 5 bed unit would not be considered as the staffing levels and related revenue costs would be prohibitive and maintaining a high level of clinical care would be very challenging. The locations for new inpatient units have been identified in line with national policy and the HSE's Pallative Care Development Framework 2017-2019, with units ranging from 15-36 beds.