Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 173: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the increase in hospital beds in primary care centres and in community nursing facilities by end 2006 under the Health Strategy 2001. [9386/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In 2001, the year of the publication of Health Strategy, the average number of in-patient beds and day places available in the 53 public acute hospitals was 12,145. At the end of 2005, this figure had increased by 1,199 to a total of 13,344, involving an additional 719 in-patient beds and 480 day places. This expansion of capacity represents an increase of 300 beds and places on average per year.

During 2006 the Health Service Executive undertook an extensive survey of capacity across all acute hospitals, including in-patient beds, day beds and other treatment placements, on a speciality by speciality basis. I understand that the HSE intends to publish the results of the survey in March 2007 and to make copies available to members of the Oireachtas.

The long stay activity report of 2001 indicated that, in 2001, there were 9,218 beds in public nursing homes, of which 8,671 were long-stay, and 12,731 voluntary and private nursing home beds, of which 12,483 were long-stay. In 2007, there is a total of 9,488 beds in public nursing homes including Welfare Homes of which about 8,250 are long-stay beds. In addition, there are an estimated 16,000 voluntary and private long stay beds. The reduction in public long stay beds is accountable by improvements made to some public homes to improve the environment so as to meet with increased standards and client centered care responses.

In 2006, the HSE contracted a total of 1,050 extra beds in the private nursing home sector. A total of €28m is being allocated to cover the full year cost in 2007 of these beds. In addition, the HSE hopes to contract a further 350 beds in 2007 at a cost of €12m.

As part of the overall investment package for the development of services for older people, the DOHC and the HSE have prioritised the delivery of additional public continuing care beds through the development of community nursing units in large urban centres in both Dublin and Cork together with the expansion and the development of additional facilities across all regions. The HSE proposes to expand public capacity by 446 beds in 2007 and by 414 in 2008. This expansion will take account of the regional variations identified in the HSE/Prospectus report. The running costs in full year of this additional public capacity will be €42m.

The Primary Care Strategy (2001) aims to develop services in the community to give people direct access to integrated multi-disciplinary teams of general practitioners, nurses, home helps, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and others. The Government has committed under the Towards 2016 agreement to the establishment of 300 Primary Care Teams by 2008; 400 by 2009; and 500 by 2011. A review of these targets will be undertaken in 2008.

The provision of the appropriate infrastructure for the effective functioning of Primary Care Teams is being considered by the HSE, having regard to a number of factors. These include the type and configuration of the services involved, the mixed public/private nature of our health system, the suitability of existing infrastructure and the achievement of the best value for money.