Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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1239. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the bed capacity review; the terms of reference; the membership of those undertaking the review; the timeline for the review; when and the number of times the group has met; when the review will complete and report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1385/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, I have confirmed that my Department will undertake a capacity review this year in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government.

Systematic analysis of the capacity requirements of the health service is an obvious requirement of proper planning and management. Such reviews should ideally be undertaken on a periodic basis and have a medium to long term focus. Given the changes in population, epidemiological trends and fiscal environment since the last report in 2007, a review at this stage is appropriate.

Assessing capacity requirements, however, is a complex task and cannot be divorced from considerations on the underlying model of care we want to develop for the Irish health service. It is widely acknowledged that primary care can provide more appropriate and effective management and treatment of some illnesses and conditions, especially chronic diseases. Similarly, the availability of non-acute beds and services in the community can mitigate the need for acute hospital admission, or facilitate earlier discharge. These factors directly contribute to the demands on the acute hospital system.

For this reason, I am anxious that the review will have a wider scope than previous reviews and will examine key elements of primary and community care infrastructure in addition to hospital beds. Initial work on the 2017 Capacity Review has focused on expanding the concept of a preferred model of care and how it can inform the assessment of future capacity requirements. Arrangements for the review are now being put in place. It will be undertaken by my Department and will be overseen by a steering group and an international expert advisory group. External expert inputs will be commissioned to provide independent and impartial analysis of capacity needs. Finalised details of the review process will be made public shortly.

Given the current pressures being experienced within our hospital services, the process must also have a short-term focus and determine how capital investment over the coming years can be best targeted. I can confirm that the review will be advanced sufficiently to enable it to inform considerations around the mid-term review of the capital programme. It will be finalised for publication later in the year.