ICU beds in Wexford
Deputy Mythen questioned why Wexford General Hospital has so few ICU beds and asked where recent additions were located. The Taoiseach said ICU capacity is being managed for both Covid and non-Covid care and that local allocation is primarily an HSE matter.
It was reported to me that the six ICU beds in Wexford General Hospital were full as of yesterday, Tuesday, 6 October, one through Covid-19. We are aware we are facing into our first winter under Covid-19. We know the winter influenza season is coming. Why does a county hospital such as Wexford General Hospital only have six ICU beds to cover a population of more than 150,000 people?
The Taoiseach said yesterday an additional 57 ICU beds have been introduced since March, which is welcome. How many of these, however, were in Wexford General Hospital? How many of the additional 17 beds in the winter plan will be allocated to Wexford General Hospital? What action is the Government taking to ensure sufficient ICU bed capacity in Wexford General Hospital for the possible second wave of Covid-19 this winter?
Comment on this
Many ICU beds across the country are occupied because we want them to be in terms of ongoing non-Covid treatments. That is part of the overall plan in terms of the resumption of non-Covid services in our health system and that will continue.
In respect of specific hospital allocation and provision, in the first instance, the allocation and prioritisation of resources is a matter for the Health Service Executive. I will relay the Deputy's question back to the HSE although I am not sure whether he has engaged with the HSE locally on that matter.