Richard Bruton
Ceist:214 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of bed closures in 2002 to date in Dublin's acute hospitals; and the number of bed days which have been lost as a consequence. [15210/02]
Written Answers. - Hospital Accommodation.
I understand that there were approximately 425,000 bed days available in acute hospitals in the Eastern Regional Health Authority region for the first quarter of 2002. Some 9,903 bed days, that is, less than 2.5% of the total available.
Beds out of use for short periods is a feature of all acute hospital systems. The table below provides a breakdown of the data by individual hospital. Under the bed capacity initiative I have provided additional funding this year to the Eastern Regional Health Authority to provide for an additional 335 beds in the region during 2002. This investment will ensure a significant increase in acute hospital services and improvements in patient care.
Eastern Regional Health Authority
|
Hospital |
Average Number of Beds Out of Use for the First Quarter of 2002 |
Number of bed days lost in the hospital due to bed closures |
|
The Coombe Women's Hospital |
0 |
0 |
|
James Connolly Memorial Hospital |
0 |
0 |
|
Naas General Hospital |
0 |
0 |
|
St. Columcilles Hospital, Loughlinstown |
0 |
0 |
Eastern Regional Health Authority
|
Hospital |
Average Number of Beds Out of Use for the First Quarter of 2002 |
Number of bed days lost in the hospital due to bed closures |
|
St. Luke's Hospital, Rathgar |
0 |
0 |
|
The Children's Hospital |
4 |
320 |
|
The Mater Hospital |
15 |
1,359 |
|
St. Vincent's Hospital |
30 |
1,217 |
|
St. James's Hospital |
12 |
380 |
|
Rotunda |
9 |
472 |
|
Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children |
12 |
1,105 |
|
National Maternity Hospital |
16 |
1,254 |
|
Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital |
15 |
1,387 |
|
Cappagh Orthopaedic Hospital |
21 |
1,910 |
|
Beaumont Hospital |
8 |
469 |
|
Tallaght Hospital |
2 |
30 |
|
Total |
9,903 |
(The average number of beds out of use for each hospital does not mean that all the beds were out of use for the full quarter.)
Richard Bruton
Ceist:215 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children when it is proposed to commence building a new campus to accommodate the children's hospital facilities now in Temple Street; and the date on which services are expected to be transferred. [15211/02]
As the Deputy may be aware, in December 2001 I launched the development control plan, approved by my Department and the Eastern Regional Health Authority, for the Mater and Temple Street Children's Hospitals. This is undoubtedly the most significant capital development in respect of both the Mater Misericordiae Hospital and The Children's Hospital, Temple Street. The new hospital will be the largest in the State and will serve the catchment area of north Dublin and the wider community through its tertiary specialties. Funding in the region of €340 million at December 2001 prices has been identified in the national development plan for the re-development of the Mater campus, incorporating the transfer of services from Temple Street.
There are two locations identified by the development control plan to provide temporary accommodation for a number of hospital functions during the construction of the main campus development and planning permission for these was lodged in December 2001. On-site work is expected to begin in the autumn of 2002. The completion of these buildings will allow on-site work for the main development to begin. It is expected that the construction, equipping and commissioning of the development will be completed in 2009.