Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 30 Apr 1998

Vol. 490 No. 4

Written Answers. - Hospital Services.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

39 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children whether he has satisfied himself that adequate hospital facilities are available throughout the country in view of the likely increases in demand in the next ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10205/98]

Michael D. Higgins

Ceist:

63 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the need to rationalise the acute hospital sector; the studies, if any, under way on this matter; and the way in which he intends to proceed in this regard. [10269/98]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 63 together.

The strategy to provide acute hospital services is based on the principles of regional self-sufficiency; equity of access and the redressing of regional imbalances. Towards implementing this strategy, a network of general and local hospitals is being developed throughout the country, which will enable the continuation of the provision of high quality hospital services for general medical and surgical facilities. Part of this development is the establishment of improved, co-ordinated working arrangements between hospitals in individual health board areas, as a result of the rationalisation of the services, primarily through the establishment of joint departments and joint appointments, designed to respond to the acute hospital needs of local populations and to optimise the effectiveness of the resources allocated.

The network of general and local hospitals is supplemented by larger regional hospitals and by a small number of highly specialised tertiary on supra-regional units, serving much wider catchment areas.

Significant investment has been made in recent years in the development of the acute hospital infrastructure and in the provision of specialities to meet local needs and I intend to continue with this development, with particular reference to regional self-sufficiency and equity of access. Toward this end, I will be investing an increased level of funding in capital developments in the health services over the next three years, a large proportion of which will go towards the development of acute hospitals. I will also continue to implement the cancer strategy and will commence the implementation of the cardio-vascular strategy, both of which will result in the provision of critical services at local level, thus obviating the need for persons to travel long distances to receive treatment outside their regions.

A recent OECD comparative study on health expenditure in Ireland found that hospital productivity here has increased significantly over the past 15 years and, in this context, average in-patient length of stay had reduced by 29 per cent, better management of resources has allowed the average bed occupancy rate to rise to 85 per cent and that the level of day-care treatment had almost quadrupled here since 1986. As a result of the combination of these factors, the total number of cases treated in acute hospitals in Ireland has been rising by 3 per cent each year since 1987, emphasising the appropriateness of increasing overall levels of services in the sector, rather than focusing solely on bed numbers or number of hospitals.

While the OECD report confirms that the acute hospital sector is managing well, I will continue to ensure that this productivity of the sector is optimised, that it continues to respond efficiently, effectively and equitably to the needs of the population and that it is resourced appropriately to provide high-quality hospital services, in meeting these objectives.