Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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716. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to increase bed capacity and address the overcrowding crisis in Portiuncula Hospital as part of the Saolta Hospital Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59042/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Portiuncula University Hospital, like many hospitals, is dealing with increasing levels of attendances to its Emergency Department. This increase is resulting in a higher number of admissions to the hospital. The care needs of many of these patients require a greater length of stay in hospital. Covid-19 is also continuing to have a significant impact on bed capacity, either in caring for patients with the virus directly, or as a result of bed closures caused by Covid restrictions.

Bed capacity has also been impacted by staffing resources. A significant overseas Nursing recruitment campaign is being progressed by the Saolta Group with the intention of having additional resources coming into the service within the next 3 months. Interviews are on-going at present, with an expected arrival date of January 2022 for the first tranche of nurses.

The design of a 12 bedded isolation ward in a vacated area of the hospital is progressing and it is expected that this work will be completed in 2022.

In addition, a new ward block development will provide a 50-bed replacement ward. Tenders are due in for this work in December, with the intention of awarding a contract early in  2022. 

In addition, the Saolta Group is working with colleagues in Community Healthcare West and Community Healthcare Organisation 1 to enhance community care, particularly in relation to  respiratory, diabetes and older peoples services.  This will help to reduce the number of future admissions to the hospital.