Vol. 527 No. 5
18 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the recent report from the Irish Hospital Consultants Association which suggested that up to 450 patients are needlessly occupying acute hospital beds every day; the steps he is taking to provide adequate step down facilities to ensure that acute beds are available for those who most need them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28922/00]
The Government is committed in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness to a review of bed capacity in both the acute and non-acute settings. The bed review is being conducted by my Department in conjunction with the Department of Finance and in consultation with the social partners. In this regard my Department has received a detailed submission from the Irish Hospital Consultants Association, the content of which has already been the subject of discussion with the IHCA. I presented the interim findings of the national bed review to my Government colleagues and identified a range of short to medium term investment proposals aimed at addressing identified service difficulties in both sectors. One of the key issues identified during phase 1 of the review was the need for additional step-down facilities for patients who are currently inappropriately occupying acute hospital beds.
