Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 December 2020
607. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health the number of additional beds that have been provided to date under the winter plan; the breakdown under each category of bed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43452/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, commits to continuing investment in our health care services in line with the recommendations of the Health Service Capacity Review and the commitments in Project Ireland 2040.
The Health Service Capacity Review 2018 found that the net requirement in combination with health system reform is for an additional 2,590 hospital beds by 2031 (2,100 inpatient, 300 day case and 190 critical care). The National Development Plan provides for the addition of the full 2,590 beds by 2027.
This winter is expected to be particularly challenging due to the presence of Covid-19 and the uncertainty around the level of Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 healthcare demands. The Department of Health is working with the HSE to increase acute capacity in hospitals throughout the country to meet this and other health demands. Government allocated €236 million revenue and €40 million capital expenditure as part of Budget 2021 to fund additional acute beds on a permanent basis. This funding will provide, by the end of 2021, an additional 1,146 acute beds.
A proportion of these beds will be funded as part of the HSE’s Winter Plan 2020/21. The Winter Plan aims to provide additional health service capacity across a range of services. Initiatives comprise additional acute and community beds to increase acute capacity, help reduce admissions and facilitate egress.
This represents a significant step towards achieving the recommendations in the 2018 Health Service Capacity Review which found that an additional 2,100 inpatient acute beds were required, in a reform scenario, by 2031.
The Winter Plan progress report provided by the HSE on the 10th of December 2020 shows that a total of 466 acute, sub acute and intermediate care beds have been provided. Of these beds 239 were acute beds, 176 intermediate care, and the remaining 51 were sub acute beds.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
