Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 January 2017
1350. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the amount of the €9 million funding outlined in the 2017 HSE service plan to expand existing or develop new services in acute hospitals that will go to each hospital group, in tabular form; and the details of the expanded or new service being provided in each group in 2017. [1981/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the HSE National Service Plan 2017, €9 million funding has been allocated to expand existing, or develop new, services in the acute hospitals sector in 2017.
In order to increase capacity in acute hospitals, of this funding, €1.4m has been allocated to open a new Emergency Department (ED) in University Hospital Limerick and a further €1m has been allocated to the opening of a new 75 bed ward block in University Hospital Galway.
The setting of budgets for individual hospitals and the hospital groups, including the allocation of the remaining €6.6m of new development funding, is currently being finalised by the HSE as part of the development of Operational Plans for each of the hospital groups. The Department is currently engaging with the HSE with respect to finalising the funding allocations associated with the Operational Plans.
Efforts will continue in 2017 to proactively optimise existing hospital and community capacity, to improve the patient experience, patient flow and timeliness of quality service delivery.
