Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies Healy, Cahill and Mattie McGrath for raising this very important issue concerning South Tipperary General Hospital.

The Minister and I fully recognise the importance of increasing bed capacity in our hospitals and the impact this will have on improving access for patients through emergency departments and for hospital inpatient and day case procedures. Hospitals are increasingly operating at or above capacity, with year-round demand pressures that are further challenged over the winter months. Approximately 1.3 million people attended emergency departments last year. South Tipperary General Hospital, as a model 3 hospital, is experiencing similar challenges to similar facilities. In 2018, over 30,000 patients attended the emergency department at South Tipperary General Hospital - a 1.7% reduction on 2017; 9,149 patients were admitted - a 6.5% increase on 2017; and, as a result, the number of patients recorded as waiting on trolleys at 8 a.m. was 3,739 - an increase of 3.1% compared to 2017.

The health service capacity review indicates that Ireland has among the highest acute bed occupancy rates in the developed world at 94%, significantly ahead of the OECD average of 77%. It is against this background that the review recommended an increase in acute hospitals beds of over 2,600 by 2031 to support the projected Increase in demand for services in the years ahead.

The national development plan provides for the full 2,600 beds by 2028 - three years ahead of schedule. As a result, increasing capacity is a priority for the Government. Over the past 12 months, an additional 240 beds have been opened. A capacity programme for 2019 has been agreed and is set out in the national service plan for 2019. This includes: 75 acute beds and 70 community beds to come on stream in 2019 as part of the winter plan for 2018-2019; 78 additional beds planned for quarters 1 and 2 of 2019, including the 40-bed modular build in South Tipperary General Hospital; and preparation of 202 beds, of which 16 are critical care, by quarter 4 of 2019, with a view to bringing this extra capacity into operation in the first quarter of 2020.

On foot of budget 2019 and the national service plan, the necessary funding is in place for the 40-bed modular build for South Tipperary General Hospital. This includes: funding to complete the construction; funding for equipment in the unit; and funding to staff the unit. The HSE is planning for the unit to be operational in the second quarter of this year.

Increasing capacity alone will not address the challenges faced by the health system. Investment and reform must go hand in hand. We have seen in other hospitals in recent years that increased capacity coupled with an ambitious reform programme will deliver improved access for patients. That is why driving improvement processes in line with Sláintecare is a key objective of the Government to ensure that investment is coupled with reform.

I look forward to the completion of this new unit as it represents a significant investment in bed capacity in South Tipperary General Hospital. It will complement the existing 178 inpatient beds and 21 day beds and will support the provision of acute hospital services to the geographically wide catchment area of south Tipperary, west Waterford and varying areas of north Tipperary.

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