Vol. 554 No. 5
1206 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress to date in respect of the ?40.36 million winter initiative announced by him in November 2000; the number of additional accident and emergency consultants appointed to date; the number of additional consultant anaesthetists appointed to date; the progress on the additional areas detailed in his announcement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17232/02]
The Deputy will be aware that I announced a €40.63 million investment package aimed at alleviating service pressures and maintaining services to patients, particularly in the acute hospital sector, over the winter period 2000-2001. The investment package was targeted at a number of areas, including: recruitment of additional accident and emergency consultants and consultant anaesthetists; contracting of places in private nursing homes for patients who had completed the acute phase of treatment; provision of medical appliances and aids for older persons.
My Department has been advised by the Eastern Regional Health Authority and by the health boards that, to date, an additional 17 accident and emergency consultants and 14 consultant anaesthetists have been appointed under this initiative.
Funding was also provided for the contracting of additional private nursing home places by the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards. These places are for patients whose acute phase of treatment has been completed, but who require additional care in an alternative setting. Additional funding was also provided as part of the investment package for the provision of a range of supports, including walking aids, wheelchairs and special beds.
The Health Strategy, Quality and Fairness – A Health System for you – outlines a programme of investment and reform of the health services up to 2011. As part of the preparatory work for the strategy my Department, in conjunction with the Department of Finance and in consultation with the social partners, conducted a comprehensive review of acute hospital bed capacity needs. On foot of the subsequent report entitled Acute Hospital Bed Capacity – A National Review, the Government decided, in the context of the strategy, to provide an additional 3,000 beds in acute hospitals over the next ten years. I announced, on 16 January, a €65 million investment package for the commissioning of 709 beds in acute hospitals. My Department has been advised by the ERHA and the health boards, that 217 of these beds have been commissioned to date and that the balance will be introduced on a phased basis over the coming months.
