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Hospital Accommodation.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 October 2004

Thursday, 28 October 2004

Ceisteanna (55, 56, 57)

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

43 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the action she proposes to take to address the serious deficiency in acute hospital bed numbers, with particular reference to the concern and anxiety of patients and their families who are unable to access services when most needed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26344/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Liz McManus

Ceist:

69 Ms McManus asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if an additional 3,000 hospital beds will be provided in regard to the commitment given in the national health strategy; the number provided to date; the hospitals in each case; the number that have been provided to date; the projected number that will be provided before the end of 2004; the number of beds lost since 1997; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26330/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Paul Nicholas Gogarty

Ceist:

93 Mr. Gogarty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the progress made to date in introducing extra beds as promised in the health strategy; her views on whether the introduction of beds needs to be speeded up; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26347/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 43, 69 and 93 together.

This Government is committed to increasing acute hospital bed capacity as indicated in the health strategy. Since 2002, funding has been provided to hospitals to open an additional 900 beds. A total of 600 of these beds are already open and the rest will come on stream in 2004-2005. The table below shows details of the current position in relation to additional beds for which funding has been provided.

Hospital

Additional beds in place

Beds due to open

Beaumont/St. Joseph’s, Raheny

77

28

St. James’s

74

66

St. Vincent’s, incorporating St. Michael’s, Dun Laoghaire

42

Naas General

61

30

James Connolly Memorial

21

Tallaght

7

Temple Street

15

Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore

6

Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar

12

Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise

5

Mid West Regional Hospital, Limerick

55

Croom Orthopaedic

17

Nenagh General

6

Louth General

14

Monaghan General

10

Our Lady’s Navan

14

Letterkenny General

8

Sligo General

30

Kilcreene Orthopaedic

28

St. Luke’s Kilkenny

14

Waterford Regional

24

Wexford General

10

Bantry General

8

Mercy University Hospital

13

South Infirmary / Victoria, Cork

35

Kerry General, Tralee

16

Mayo General

23

37

Roscommon General Hospital

9

UCHG

36

44

Portiuncula

3

2

Total

600

300

Overall Total

900

The average number of in-patient and day beds available in publicly funded hospitals in June 1997 as reported to the Department of Health and Children by health boards and voluntary hospitals was 12,604. The total number of available beds in July 2004, the latest date for which complete figures are available was 13,390.

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