Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 February 2022
684. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of funded and open critical care beds; when the next critical care bed census will report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4513/22]
View answerThe Government is committed to addressing the long-standing deficit in critical care capacity. Very significant funding of €77 million has been provided by Government across 2021 and 2022, to increase national capacity to 340 critical care beds by 2023. The HSE has advised that 42 of these beds are now open, bringing permanent adult critical care capacity to 297 beds, from a baseline of 255 beds in early 2020.
The Strategic Plan for Critical Care, which I brought to Government in December 2020, will when implemented fully address the recommendation of the 2018 Health Service Capacity Review for 430 critical care beds by 2031. In fact, it surpasses that recommendation, delivering an increase in capacity to 446 over time.
With regard to the publication of the next critical care bed capacity census, as this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
