Figures from the Department of Health and Children used in the national review of bed capacity show that in 2002 there was a severe deficit of acute hospital beds. In 1981 there were 5.1 acute beds per 1,000 of population, giving a total of 17,500 acute beds. In 2002 the figure dropped to 3.1 acute beds per 1,000 of population, giving a total of 11,832 acute beds. The same report estimated that there was a need to restore between 2,800 and 4,300 acute beds nationally.