Hospital bed capacity review
Deputy Adams questioned the delay in commencing the promised hospital bed capacity review and sought clarity on its timetable. The Taoiseach said the Minister was working on it and then gave an update on pressures in the hospital system, including trolley numbers, viruses, and weather-related admissions.
The programme for Government included a commitment to undertake a hospital bed capacity review to establish the number, type and location of beds required for the future. Just last week, we learned that the review had not commenced. The Minister for Health has admitted that he has not moved beyond the preliminary work to determine the terms of reference for the review. It is taking so long to agree to the terms of reference that it is no wonder the health service is in the crisis it is in. Will the Taoiseach bring some clarity to the matter? Will he tell us when we will finally see the terms of reference for the bed capacity review? Will the review be completed by next year, in time for inclusion in the 2016-21 capital plan?
Comment on this
The Minister is working on the review. I noted this morning that the number of patients on trolleys in special delivery units had decreased since yesterday. Norovirus - the winter vomiting bug - is causing a problem in St. Vincent's University Hospital and the hospitals in Wexford, Letterkenny, Waterford and Cork. Some of these hospitals have had particularly high attendances. Tallaght Hospital continues to have 20 beds closed owing to the CRE bug. There has been a surge in the number of orthopaedic patients and medical admissions because of the adverse weather. Norovirus is having a serious impact on hospitals. I will have the Deputy apprised of the work the Minister is doing on the beds issue.