Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 11 Feb 2003

Vol. 561 No. 1

Written Answers. - Hospital Waiting Lists.

David Stanton

Ceist:

190 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of chronic sick young persons awaiting beds in each health board area; the number of beds available in each health board area at present to cater for chronically sick young persons; his plans in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3459/03]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. T. O'Malley):

The information requested by the Deputy regarding young chronic sick persons is set out in the following table:

Health Board-Authority	Number of YCS awaiting beds	Number of beds available
Eastern Regional Health Authority	674	416
Midland	43	0
Mid-Western	52	30
North Eastern	30	10
North Western	2	0
Southern	10	21
South Eastern	75	0
Western	28	0

My Department is acutely aware that there are serious short comings in the present range of services available for this care group in a number of health board areas. In accordance with the action plan set out in the health strategy, Quality and Fairness – A Health System For You, this is one of the issues to be pursued in the planning of infrastructure development in the health system.

The Eastern Regional Health Authority has dedicated units for the treatment of young chronic sick, YCS, clients in the Royal Hospital Donnybrook and Peamount Hospital. Most health boards do not, however, have dedicated units for YCS and YCS are accommodated in acute hospitals, district hospitals, nursing homes for the elderly and their own homes. Placements in acute hospitals are inappropriate as they block beds needed for the waiting list initiative and nursing homes for the elderly are inappropriate for younger YCS clients.

A number of health boards are examining the possibility of developing residential units for YCS, either by the health board itself or in partnership with voluntary agencies such as the Cheshire Foundation of Ireland.

My Department understands that the Eastern Regional Health Authority recently completed a review of services for young chronic sick in conjunction with the three area health boards and the voluntary agencies and its findings are currently being circulated. A copy will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible. The review makes recommendations around developing, enhancing and augmenting the services for young chronic disabled clients, including proposals for the development of a range of appropriate accommodation options and associated care and support, tailored to meet their needs. This action is aimed at maintaining disabled persons in the community as well as the creation of new places for the young chronic sick.