Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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56. To ask the Minister for Health the up-to-date position regarding the opening of additional beds at West Kerry Community Hospital, Dingle, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2063/24]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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West Kerry Community Hospital provides important and valued services for people in the West Kerry area. The hospital has 46 beds registered, of which 35 are long-stay beds and 11 are short-stay beds, including 2 respite and 1 palliative care bed. The maximum number of people that can be safely accommodated in the hospital are currently being accommodated.

The intention of the HSE is to continue to sustain the current workforce to maintain the 46 beds in the centre into the future. Considerable efforts are also being made to increase staff numbers and bed capacity in West Kerry as well as facilitating clear pathways for the transition of patients from the acute sector to the community.

However, similar to other hospitals in remote locations, staff recruitment challenges have unfortunately had an impact. Cork Kerry Community Healthcare continues to endeavour to recruit staff to increase the number of community beds for the region and maximise the services available. The HSE will continue to seek qualified and interested candidates through recruitment campaigns undertaken at the national, regional, and local level.