Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 October 2018
121. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health when a funding submission made to the HSE over a year and a half ago will be approved in view of the ongoing number facing long delays in accessing the local hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40370/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs previously outlined to the House, my Department has engaged with the HSE this year to identify the location and mix of beds across the hospital system, which can be opened and staffed in 2018 and into 2019 in order to improve preparedness for Winter 2018/2019.
My Department has received a proposal from the HSE to increase acute and community bed capacity, which identifies 609 acute beds and 290 residential care beds to be phased in between 2018 and 2020. This proposal, which includes a 20-bed short stay ward in Letterkenny University Hospital, is currently under consideration by my Department in the context of the 2019 Estimates Process.
