Written answers

Wednesday, 21 November 2007

Department of Health and Children

Hospital Accommodation

9:00 pm

Photo of Dan NevilleDan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 86: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of recommended inpatient beds and the number of such beds in the health service. [29401/07]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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In 2001, the year of the publication of the Health Strategy, the average number of in-patient beds and day places available in the 53 public acute hospitals was 12,145, based on returns to the Department ( 11,374 in-patient beds and 771 day places). The provisional number of acute hospital beds recorded by the Health Service Executive for 2006 was 13,771( 12,574 in-patient beds and 1,197 day places) based on a total bed complement. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to provide an additional 1,500 public acute hospital beds. In this context the co-location initiative which was announced in July 2005, aims to deliver about a 1000 additional beds for public patients through the development of private hospitals on public sites. The balance of approximately 500 public acute hospital beds are at various stages of planning under the Health Service Executive's capital plan.

The HSE commissioned PA Consulting Group to undertake an independent review of acute bed capacity requirements for Ireland until the year 2020. My Department is advised that this review has now been completed.

The HSE will be arranging for discussions with the social partners and other interested parties around the findings of the Review in the context of the future development of both hospital and community based services.

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