asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the proposed reduction in the number of surgical beds by the South Eastern Health Board at Ardkeen General Hospital, County Waterford; and if he has satisfied himself that the proposal is justified on medical grounds.

32.

asked the Minister for Health if his Department has laid down guidelines indicating a minimum number of surgical beds in each health board region and in each acute hospital.

176.

asked the Minister for Health (a) the population in each health board area and (b) the number of surgical beds in each health board area.

177.

asked the Minister for Health the recommended minimum level of population per surgical bed; and if he has satisfied himself that proposals being put forward by the South Eastern Health Board comply with this minimum standard.

180.

asked the Minister for Health his views on whether the number of surgical beds in the south eastern region is adequate (i) at present and (ii) in the event of the chief executive officer's proposals now before the board being accepted.

It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 26, 32, 176, 177 and 180 together.

The information sought is set out in the form of a tabular statement which is being circulated in the Official Report. Information relating to the number of surgical beds at present open in each health board area is currently being updated and will be forwarded to the Deputies as soon as it is available. The standard agreed planning hospital bed norm for surgery is 0.6 beds per 1,000 population.

*The population of the Eastern, Midland, North-Eastern and Western Health Boards have been adjusted to take account of flows of patients across health board boundaries.

**These figures for surgical beds are as reported to the Department of Health by hospitals and health boards. They do not include those surgical beds which are included in a total composite figure rather than being specifically categorised as surgical. Neither do the figures include many beds whose use could be regarded as surgical such as "children's beds" and those in gynaecology, paediatrics, orthopaedics, urology, cardiac surgery etc.

It should be noted that the above figures should be treated with caution due to the issues referred to in the notes to the table, the existence of many other complex elements in their make-up which the figures themselves do not clarify, and recent developments in the provision of hospital services.

With regard to the South Eastern Health Board area, I am satisfied that the number of surgical beds in that region is adequate to meet its needs at present. This will remain so when the chief executive officer's proposals, which have now been approved by the board, are implemented.