Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 13 Jun 2000

Vol. 521 No. 1

Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.

David Stanton

Ceist:

202 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make provision to increase the number of places in community hospitals for young chronic sick patients; the number of such patients being catered for at present in community welfare hospitals; the number of such patients awaiting places in community welfare hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16573/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The statistics sought by the Deputy are not routinely collected by my Department. The Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards have been asked to furnish the relevant figures and these will be passed on to the Deputy when received. It is known however that there are approximately 100 such patients in acute hospital beds awaiting appropriate placement.

The objective of policy is to provide special units for the young chronic sick, young chronic disabled. At least eight such units, to cater for 200 people, are required and provision for this is built into the national development plan in the period 2000 to 2006. One new unit, with 25 places, in Peamount Hospital in Dublin has been provided within the last 12 months and will be fully occupied within the next few months. In the absence of specialised units, health boards place the young chronic sick in other facilities, such as community hospitals and nursing homes where this is possible in individual cases.