Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 May 2022
680. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of critical care beds in the public healthcare system per 100,000; the total number; the way in which this compares with other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and European Union states in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26462/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Irish National ICU Audit Interim Report 2019, published by the National Office of Clinical Audit (NOCA) in 2020, reported that Ireland had 5.2 critical care beds in public hospitals per 100,000 population, less than half the European average. The deficit in critical care capacity in the Irish acute hospital system was also identified in the 2018 Health Service Capacity Review, which recommended that critical care capacity be increased to 430 beds by 2031.
The Government is committed to addressing this long-standing deficit in critical care capacity. Very significant funding of €77 million has been provided by Government across 2021 and 2022, to increase national capacity to 340 critical care beds by 2023.
The HSE has advised that 51 of these beds are now open, bringing permanent adult critical care capacity to 306 beds currently, from the 2020 baseline of 255 or an increase of 20% over the 2020 baseline of 255 beds.
The Strategic Plan for Critical Care, which I brought to Government in December 2020, will when implemented fully address the critical care recommendations of the Health Service Capacity Review. In fact, it surpasses that recommendation, delivering an increase in capacity to 446 over time.
With regard to how our critical care capacity compares with other jurisdictions, the OECD Health at a Glance 2021 Report shows how Ireland compares with other OECD nations and can be found at the following link: read.oecd.org/10.1787/e5a80353-en?format=read#page2.
