Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 September 2021
1499. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the total cost of delivering the new 26 critical care beds in the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Tallaght University Hospital and University Hospital Limerick; the cost per stage and across cost types for each project; the length of time each project will take to fully complete for each stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43141/21]
View answerThe 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 is estimated to be €747k, based on 2018 data. 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.
A Strategic Plan for Critical Care was noted by Government in December 2020. This Plan aims to increase capacity from a baseline of 255 to 446 over time, fully addressing the recommendations of the Health Service Capacity Review. As the first phase of implementation, funding of €52m was provided in 2021 to allow for the permanent retention of the 40 beds temporarily funded in 2020, plus an additional 26 beds as referenced by the Deputy. Of these, the HSE has advised that the six beds in UHL were opened in the first half of this year, with the beds at the Mater and Tallaght hospitals due to open in Q42021/Q12022 on completion of capital works. I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in regard to the specific detail requested on these projects.
