Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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819. To ask the Minister for Health the number of hospital beds per 1,000 of the population; if there is data relating to these figures in a comparable context in respect of other OECD countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13265/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As of December, 2016, the Health Service Executive (HSE) data indicate that acute hospital bed capacity numbered 12,644 beds, comprised of 10,507 inpatient and 2,137 day case beds. The most recent bed capacity figures of 2.8 per 1,000 population recorded by the OECD for the Republic of Ireland do not include capacity in private hospitals, unlike figures recorded in many other EU countries. It should be noted that the international definitions of hospital beds do not include day beds.

The Private Hospitals Association estimate the current aggregate bed capacity of their member hospitals at approximately 2,500 beds. Inclusion of private capacity would hypothetically give a figure of approximately 3.2 hospital beds per 1,000 population (a total of just over 15,200), based on the population of approximately 4.76 million recorded by the 2016 Census. The OECD average (based on 2013 figures) is 4.8 hospital beds per 1000 population.

It is important to note that our population is younger than those of European nations with high hospital bed numbers, although numbers of over 65s are increasing at the rate of almost 20,000 per year. This population cohort uses 53% of acute hospital capacity.

In line with the commitment made in the Programme for a Partnership Government, a Bed Capacity Review is underway. The review will be comprehensive and will examine capacity requirements in primary and social care in addition to acute hospitals. It is also intended that private hospitals will come within the scope of the review.