Vol. 540 No. 3
138 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children his estimate of the shortfall in acute hospital beds, in day hospital facilities, in consultant posts, in rehabilitation and convalescent beds, and in longstay beds in the Eastern Regional Health Authority area, distinguishing where possible the shortfalls that apply in the Northern Area Health Board. [20527/01]
Responsibility for the provision of health services in the Eastern Regional Health Authority, ERHA, is a matter for the authority itself. I have, therefore, asked the regional chief executive of the authority to examine this issue and respond directly to the Deputy. However, as the Deputy is aware, I initiated a national review of bed capacity in both the acute and non-acute sectors, on foot of the commitment by Government in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. The review is being conducted by my Department in conjunction with the Department of Finance and in consultation with the social partners. The review is at an advanced stage and will be completed shortly.
In parallel with the national review of bed capacity, the ERHA prepared a comprehensive needs assessment indicating a requirement for 1,276 additional acute beds by 2011 to meet increasing demands. The ERHA study will inform the preparation of the national review.
