Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Last Wednesday, 80 people were on trolleys in University Hospital Limerick. I am familiar with the hospital as it is my local main acute hospital. That is worrying. I am used to such figures in the depths of January and February but not in September.

Today, the Government launched the winter initiative from the HSE. I understand it was launched late but had been ready for some time. The Government is saying there are 1,500 new beds. A total of 830 new acute beds were announced but 409 of these are actually already in place. Similarly, some 63 new critical care beds were announced but 45 are already in place. That means only an extra 18 beds. The announcement states 484 new sub-acute beds are coming but 395 of these are already in place, so in fact there are only 89. The Government is saying 1,500 new beds will be delivered as part of this winter plan, which extends until April. However, when we add it all up, there are only 528 new beds. Why is the Government announcing 1,500 beds? That is my first question.

Will the Minister break down where those beds are going? We need to know where the concentration of beds will be. We know we have extraordinary issues in the acute sector in the mid-west and in Cork University Hospital as well. We know where the problems are. We know wards in Beaumont Hospital in Dublin are closed because of Covid-19 outbreaks. There is a difference between what is being spun here versus what is the reality. I want the Minister to give assurances with regard to these figures that we will have capacity, because when Covid-19 goes into hospitals beds will disappear. The virus spreads and we do not want it to spread, so wards will close. Will the Minister give clarity on those figures immediately and break down where the beds will go?

There are ambitious plans for recruitment in health, with 12,500 staff to be recruited, including 5,000 before Christmas and 7,500 afterwards. Where will they come from? Phil Ní Sheaghdha of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has pointed out that some nurses who came home from abroad have been unable to get full-time jobs. What will radically change? Will the Minister explain that to us? Where will we get the consultants we require? The Minister for Health is out on a limb on this. I have never seen a Minister commit to something so much. Will the Minister outline where all these staff will come from, how the Government will deliver this commitment and where these staff will be placed?

Will the Minister tell us the position on the flu vaccine? Some 1.5 million people will get the flu vaccine. We know there is a delay and I accept there are issues internationally. However, we were pointing this out long before now. How will the vaccine get out in time before Christmas? How will we ensure that 1.5 million people, including vulnerable groups and categories, will be dealt with?

I will recap. Where are the beds and what are the beds? Where are the staff and where are they going? How will the flu vaccine be delivered before Christmas?

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