Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

Figures released by the HSE show that in the first six months of last year, 10,368 operations were postponed, not cancelled. That figure represents 2% of the total number of 527,000 patients who were treated in acute hospitals in the first six months of last year. While it always regrettable to postpone operations, they are postponed for a variety of reasons, including emergency cases resulting from road traffic accidents and other priorities being taken over elective cases, infection control and the availability of medical and nursing personnel. Operations are also postponed for medical and social reasons at the request of patients.

The third question raised by Deputy Kenny referred to St. James's Hospital. The bed numbers in St. James's have increased significantly by a total of 140 beds under the bed capacity initiative in new units developed over the past few years. The HSE informs me that it is aware of the pressure on the intensive care unit capacity in St. James's and it has entered discussions with management on that issue to help rather than, as Deputy Kenny said, to hinder. The HSE has offered its full support in terms of assisting fast-track post-acute patients in other settings in order to free up intensive care unit beds. It has also begun discussions with the hospital with a view to increasing high dependency capacity and advises that intensive care unit capacity has been increased from nine to 14 beds over the past few years. A national bed capacity review is currently being conducted, which will include the assessment of critical care beds. The critical carers society will be an important participant in that exercise.

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