Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 July 2019
1931. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of additional inpatient hospital beds to be provided in 2019 across the health service; the locations the additional beds will be; the additional number provided to date since 1 January 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34369/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Capacity Review published last year was clear on the need for a major investment in additional capacity in both hospital and community – combined with a wide scale reform of the manner and the location of where health services are provided.
An additional 267 acute hospital beds opened under the Winter Initiative 2017/2018, and the National Service Plan for 2019 provides for a comprehensive capacity programme. The main elements of the 2019 capacity programme are:
- the provision of 75 acute beds and 70 community beds under the Winter Plan 2018/19 — the HSE have confirmed that 75 acute beds and 59 community beds have been opened to date:
- 47 additional beds, including a 40-bed modular build in South Tipperary General Hospital, 4 HDU beds in Cork University Hospital, and 3 HDU beds in the Mater which are due to open by Q4 2019;
- preparation of 202 beds, of which 16 are critical care, during 2019, with a view to bringing this extra capacity into operation in Q1 of 2020;
- commencement of works on a 60-bed modular ward in University Hospital Limerick.
With regard to the specific question the Deputy has asked, I have asked the HSE to respond directly with the details requested.
