Hospital Accommodation.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 October 2005

Tuesday, 18 October 2005

Ceisteanna (69, 70)

Damien English

Ceist:

128 Mr. English asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the progress to date on her 1,000 bed plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28912/05]

Joan Burton

Ceist:

133 Ms Burton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her proposals for the development of 1,000 private beds on the campuses of existing public hospitals; if any cost benefit analysis has been done of this plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28785/05]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children (Ms Harney)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 128 and 133 together.

This Government is committed to exploring fully the scope for the private sector to provide additional capacity. The health strategy recognises that additional capacity will be provided in the future by a combination of public and private providers. In July this year, my Department issued a policy direction to the Health Service Executive which is aimed at freeing up additional beds for public patients in public hospitals through the development of private hospital facilities on public hospital sites. The initiative will provide up to 1,000 additional beds for public patients over the next five years.

The Health Services Executive, HSE, has been asked to begin to develop an implementation plan which will identify where these private facilities might be located and to prioritise proposals with reference to the public hospitals' requirement for additional bed capacity. Initial discussions have already taken place between my Department and the HSE on this matter.

I consider that this approach offers better value for money to the Exchequer compared to the traditional approach which would require the Exchequer to cover the full capital costs and to meet, on an ongoing basis, the full staffing and running costs of additional beds. The assessment framework which has been issued to the HSE will require it to undertake a rigorous economic assessment of each individual proposal, which includes estimating the costs to the Exchequer, including tax foregone, and the benefits of the proposed development.