Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 110: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on the urgent need for ICU beds in St. James's Hospital; when she first became aware of such a shortage; her further views on the numbers of unplanned discharges from ICU beds by doctors in order to free up beds; the amount of times major operations are postponed due to lack of ICU bed availability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6284/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services is a matter for the Health Service Executive and funding for all health services has been provided as part of its overall Vote.

My attention was drawn to pressures on the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) capacity at St. James's Hospital at the end of January. The HSE advises that it has been in discussion with the management of St James's Hospital on the issue of critical care capacity. The HSE has given approval to the hospital for the creation of one additional ICU bed and the upgrading of four general beds to the High Dependency category.

It should be noted that ICU capacity at St James's Hospital has been increased over the past three years from 9 to 14 beds and that there has been an overall increase in bed numbers in St James's of 140 in the period 2000-2006.

The hospital has also been advised by the HSE to explore further the possibility of collaboration with private hospitals to ensure maximum use of ICU capacity where available.

The HSE has advised that patients may be discharged from ICU beds earlier than planned in order to admit emergencies to the ICU. Clinical decisions are taken to prioritise use of the ICU to maximise benefit to patients. When procedures requiring post-operative critical care accommodation are postponed to cater for emergency admissions, the procedures are rescheduled as soon as possible.

Finally, the HSE is conducting a national review of acute bed capacity at present which will include an assessment of critical care bed needs. The Intensive Care Society of Ireland will be an important participant in this exercise.