Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 88: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her plans to keep acute hospital beds open in winter 2009; her views on a survey by an organisation (details supplied) which indicated that 705 beds were closed nationwide at the beginning of October 2009; the number of beds closed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39300/09]

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

I am aware of the Irish Nurses' Organisation survey which suggests that 705 acute and non-acute beds were closed at the beginning of October 2009. The most recent HSE acute hospital bed census indicates that, at 25 October 2009, there were 554 acute beds closed for cost containment reasons. A further 226 beds were closed for clinical and operational reasons. This includes infection control and refurbishment.

However, it is now established best international practice to avoid focussing solely on inputs such as funding, staff and bed numbers in assessing the performance of healthcare systems. Instead, all countries are shifting the emphasis to measuring outputs and patient outcomes.

The exact number of beds available at any one time will fluctuate depending on the steps taken by each hospital to manage infection control issues, maintenance and refurbishment and to stay within its annual budget.

Irrespective of this, the HSE has concentrated on delivering the levels of activity promised in its 2009 National Service Plan.

The latest HSE Performance Management Report shows that by the end of August, approximately 19,000 more patients had been treated as inpatients and day cases combined than had been treated at the same stage last year. The continued efforts by hospitals to reduce the length of time a patient remains in hospital, and converting inpatient procedures to day case work is unquestionably in the interests of patients. It also allows hospitals to treat more patients.

All initiatives which deliver better outputs and better outcomes for patients within the more limited resources available to us, will continue to have my support. Indeed this type of approach was a central message in the recently published ESRI report.