Hospital Beds Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 October 2018

Tuesday, 16 October 2018

Ceisteanna (439)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

439. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the number of new hospital beds that will be introduced in 2019 and 2020, respectively, as per the measures announced as part of the health budget for 2019 in which additional hospital bed capacity is pledged; the individual hospitals to which these beds will be allocated; the number of beds each facility will receive; the timeline for their proposed introduction at each facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42149/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Improving access to health services is a key priority in 2019. In the first quarter of 2019, in the region of 80 additional beds will be brought on stream, including an additional 30-bed ward in Our Lady of Lourdes Drogheda, a 40-bed modular ward block in South Tipperary General Hospital, and four high dependency beds in the Mater and Cork University Hospital respectively. In addition, the new ED planned for Our Lady of Lourdes Drogheda is due to open early in 2019.

A further €10 million in capital funding is being made available in 2019 to enable additional acute beds to be opened for Winter 2019/2020. This is the first step in the process of implementing the Capacity Plan which identifies over 600 acute beds to be phased in by the end of 2020. My Department is currently engaging with the HSE to finalise the details of this investment.