Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

24. To ask the Minister for Health for an update on the proposed new accident and emergency unit for Beaumont Hospital in Dublin 9; if the necessary planning and construction funding will be included in the new capital programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35549/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The HSE has advised that Beaumont Hospital has appointed a design team, incorporating architects and healthcare planners, to undertake a feasibility study on the location, size and cost of building a new Emergency Department at the hospital. This is currently at stakeholder consultation phase, with a number of proposals being considered and the report is expected to be available in mid-December 2015.

The HSE is concentrating on applying the funding available for infrastructure development in the most effective way possible to meet current and future needs. Any future investment at Beaumont must be considered within the overall acute hospital sector infrastructure programme, within the overall capital envelope available to the health service and in the context of the establishment of hospital groups. Each hospital group will be required to develop a strategic plan to describe how they will provide more efficient and effective patient services and reorganise these services to provide optimal care to the populations they serve.

In order to support acute hospitals over the winter period, additional funding of €18 million was provided in July for a winter initiative to include the provision of approximately 300 additional hospital beds. As part of its winter capacity planning, Beaumont is extending the Day Hospital at St. Joseph's, Raheny from a 2 day to a 5 day service. The Day Hospital provides a multi-disciplinary team for frail older people, thus providing an alternative care pathway for these patients, helping them to avoid ED admission. Rehabilitation and transitional care services are also provided in St. Joseph's, which facilitates earlier discharge from Beaumont and assists in avoiding re-admissions.