Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 20 Apr 1999

Vol. 503 No. 3

Written Answers. - Hospital Services.

Gay Mitchell

Ceist:

332 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children when a bed will be available in the special unit for the young chronically sick in Cherry Orchard hospital for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9632/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

The provision of services at the hospital in question is a matter for the Eastern Health Board. I have forwarded the details of this case to the chief executive officer of the board and asked him to have it examined as a matter of urgency and to reply directly to the Deputy.

Gay Mitchell

Ceist:

333 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of young chronically sick patients in acute beds in each of the hospitals in the Eastern Health Board area; the number of bed places in special units for the chronically sick young persons in the Eastern Health Board area; the number of patients transferred from acute beds to special beds for the young chronically sick in 1998 in the Eastern Health Board area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9633/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

The number of young chronically sick patients in acute hospitals is not routinely collected by my Department. However, at 11 April 1999, the lat est date for which record figures are available, there were a total of 84 patients, which includes young chronically sick, who were in acute hospitals awaiting placement in accommodation more appropriate to their needs. The following table sets out the location by hospital of the 84 patients:

Name of Hospital	No. of Patients awaiting placement in accommodation more appropriate to their needs as at 11 April 1999
Beaumont Hospital	42
Naas General Hospital	2
Mater Hospital	3
James Connolly Memorial Hospital	4
St. James's Hospital	12
St. Vincent's Hospital	8
Adelaide & Meath Hospital, incorporating the National Children's Hospital	5
St. Michael's Hospital	8

The following table illustrates the number of bed places in dedicated units for the young chronically sick and the number transferred from acute hospitals in 1998.

Location	No. of Bed Places for Young Chronic Sick	No. of Admissions from Acute Hospitals in 1998
Cuain Aoibheann	48	2 (1 from Beaumont Hospital and 1 from James Connolly Memorial Hospital)
Cherry Orchard	24	Nil
Peamount	25	3 (2 from Mater Hospital and 1 from Naas General Hospital)

Considerable progress has been made in recent years in providing additional nursing home accommodation for elderly patients who no longer require acute hospital beds. My Department is currently working with the Eastern Health Board and the major acute voluntary hospitals in Dublin on a number of proposals to meet the needs of certain other categories of patients who require sub-acute care. It is my view that we must make progress in this area to ensure the maximum availability of specialist acute beds at all times and I am actively pursing the recommendations of the review group on the waiting list initiative on the matter.