Hospital Accommodation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 May 2010

Wednesday, 19 May 2010

Ceisteanna (103)

Joe Costello

Ceist:

126 Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Health and Children the bed capacity of each of the hospitals in Ireland; the number of delayed discharges in each hospital; the reason for the majority of delayed discharges; if there are plans to provide more hospital space or step down accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21018/10]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney)

The average number of acute hospital beds available in public hospitals for 2007 is set out in the attached tabular statement. Acute bed numbers in public hospitals are counted as an average of beds available over each year, given that the number of beds available in each hospital can vary over any year for operational reasons. 2007 is the latest year in respect of which validated data has been compiled by the HSE. The data includes both in-patient beds and day places.

The process of validating comparable data for 2008 has not been finalised by the HSE, due to industrial action. It is therefore not possible for the information to be furnished at this time.

Hospital In-Patient Statistics

Available Beds including Day Places from January 2007 to December 2007 for each Public Acute Hospital
Hospital	Total Beds
Adelaide & Meath Hospital inc. NCH	611
Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital	211
Longford/Westmeath Regional Hospital — Mullingar	208
Midland Regional Hospital — Portlaoise	150
Midland Regional Hospital — Tullamore	247
Naas General Hospital	236
Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital — Crumlin	248
DUBLIN MIDLANDS HOSPITAL GROUP	1,911
Beaumont Hospital	744
Cappagh Orthopaedic	107
Connolly Hospital — Blanchardstown	258
Mater Misericordiae Hospital	589
Rotunda Hospital	176
St Joseph’s	47
Temple Street Children’s Hospital	127
DUBLIN NORTH HOSPITAL GROUP	2,049
National Maternity Hospital	165
Royal Victoria Eye & Ear	65
St Columcille’s Hospital	139
St James Hospital	960
St Luke’s Hospital — Dublin	179
St Michael’s Hospital — Dun Laoghaire	112
St Vincent’s Hospital Elm Park	532
DUBLIN SOUTH HOSPITAL GROUP	2,152
Ennis General Hospital	94
Nenagh General Hospital	81
Regional Hospital — Dooradoyle — Limerick	522
Regional Maternity Hospital — Limerick	99
Regional Orthopaedic Hospital — Limerick	77
St Johns Hospital — Limerick	91
MID-WESTERN HOSPITAL GROUP	964
Cavan General Hospital	252
Louth County Hospital	142
Monaghan General Hospital	88
Our Lady of Lourdes — Drogheda	335
Our Lady’s Hospital — Navan	153
NORTH EASTERN HOSPITAL GROUP	970
Orthopaedic Hospital — Kilcreene	51
South Tipperary General Hospital	250
St Luke’s Hospital — Kilkenny	305
Waterford Regional Hospital	545
Wexford General Hospital	258
SOUTH EASTERN HOSPITAL GROUP	1,409
Bantry General Hospital	80
Cork University Hospital	616
Cork University Maternity Hospital	174
Kerry General	355
Mallow General Hospital	81
Mercy Hospital — Cork	291
South Infirmary — Victoria Hospital	239
St Mary’s Hospital — Gurranebraher	116
SOUTHERN HOSPITAL GROUP	1,952
Letterkenny General Hospital	401
Mayo General Hospital	290
Merlin Park University Hospital	207
Portiuncula Hospital — Ballinasloe	200
Roscommon County Hospital	134
Sligo General Hospital	349
University Hospital Galway	680
WESTERN HOSPITAL GROUP	2,261
NATIONAL TOTAL	13,668

Source: HSE.

Please note that the figures above are subject to rounding.

There have been a number of capital developments in recent years which have involved the provision of new acute beds in the acute hospital system. In some instances these have replaced existing facilities which were no longer appropriate for modern purposes. Consultation on the Health Service Executive's draft Capital Plan which sets out the Executive's capital investment proposals over the period 2010-2014 is ongoing between my Department, the HSE and the Department of Finance. Details of the developments included in the plan will be published by the HSE following its approval.

The HSE has taken a series of steps across the health system to shift the balance of care from acute hospitals to community based alternatives and to improve the way in which hospitals operate. These steps include the development of more enhanced community based services, Primary Care Teams, Community Intervention Teams, Rapid Access Clinics, Home Helps Home Care Packages as well as shortening lengths of stay and increasing day activity in Acute Hospitals.

I wish to advise the Deputy that due to industrial action affecting the Health Service Executive it is not possible for the Executive to supply the detailed information on delayed discharges.

Question Nos. 127 and 128 answered with Question No. 101.