Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 326: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the extent to which adequate hospital beds are available throughout the winter 2006 in view of the likelihood of winter illness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41689/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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In 2001, the year of the publication of Health Strategy, the average number of in-patient beds and day places available for treatment of patients in the 53 public acute hospitals was 12,145. At the end of 2005, this figure had increased by 1204 to a total of 13,349, involving an additional 724 in-patient beds and 480 day places. The HSE has introduced a broad-based Winter Initiative. Its purpose is to ensure that the services required to address the particular demands of the winter season are in place and operating optimally. It encompasses not just hospital services but also primary and community care services. The actions and initiatives being taken by the HSE are designed to deliver the sustained improvement in hospital services that patients and their families deserve.

The Initiative focuses on a range of measures, including the following: Preventative measures; Public Communications; Operational readiness (capacity, staffing, etc); Out of hours arrangements; NHO/PCCC arrangements (Ambulance/ Primary Care/A&E links, Discharge Initiatives, Continuing Care and Home Supports); Planned escalation procedures to enable responsiveness to increased demand beyond normal operating levels; and continuation of the development of necessary infrastructure particularly for continuing care.

Eight teams, comprising local health office and hospital managers, have been put in place around the country. These teams are responsible for ensuring that the Initiative's priorities are implemented at local level, as well as devising and implementing local solutions to address specific local winter demands.Each of the eight teams has provided an initial status report on the priority tasks and actions set out under the three main elements of the Initiative: Promotion and Prevention, Hospital Avoidance, and Capacity. A publicity campaign is underway focussing on the Flu/Pneumo-vaccine campaign among the elderly, and the importance of staying safe and warm during the winter period.