Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 226: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of acute hospital beds here in January 2010 and the number in January 2009; the number of public and the number of private of same; the projected number of same for January 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28022/10]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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The number of beds available in each hospital can vary over any year for operational reasons. Acute bed numbers in public hospitals are counted as an average of beds available over each year. The number of acute beds in private hospitals at any time is not collected or verified by my Department or by the HSE. However, I understand that in 2009 there were approximately 2,300 inpatient beds and 450 day beds in private hospitals which are members of the Irish Business and Employers' Confederation.

The national average number of acute hospital beds available in public hospitals in 2007, the latest year for which validated data has been compiled by the HSE, was 13,688. This includes both inpatient beds and day places. An average of approximately 20% of these are categorised as private beds.

My Department has requested the HSE to provide validated data on the national average number of acute hospital beds available in 2008 and 2009 to the Deputy as soon as these become available.

It is not possible to indicate the average number of acute hospital beds which will be in operation in 2011. However the emphasis must continue to be on the most effective use of acute bed capacity for patient best care, through shortened lengths of stay, day of surgery admission and more day case activity.