Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The HSE recently advertised a tender competition seeking bids from individual, or groups of private hospitals for medical beds to help support urgent and emergency care in public hospitals. This use of private capacity is included in the HSE’s Urgent and Emergency Care Operational Plan 2023.

The purpose of the tender competition was to put in place a framework for the provision of private capacity that would replace the current arrangements, whereby approximately 160 beds are being made available to public hospitals.

Under the framework, the HSE will have ongoing access to a similar number of beds, with access to additional surge capacity as required. The framework is due to be in place for four months between November 2023 and February 2024, with the option to extend the term of the arrangement by a maximum of 24 months under the same terms and conditions.

The closing date for receipt of tenders was the 23^rdof October. Engagement with each private provider is underway to finalise new contractual arrangements.

This framework agreement is addition to the ongoing engagement on scheduled care between the HSE and the private providers through the 2023 Surgical Services tender, as well as the normal NTPF commissioning.

I have asked the HSE to provide me with the current year costs of these various arrangements and will forward them to the Deputy on receipt.