Jim Kemmy
Ceist:40 Mr. Kemmy asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the number of public hospital beds available in 1992 on a region-by-region basis compared with the years 1987 to 1991.
Vol. 417 No. 7
40 Mr. Kemmy asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the number of public hospital beds available in 1992 on a region-by-region basis compared with the years 1987 to 1991.
The number of public hospital beds available for use is subject to variation over the course of any year due to factors such as seasonal bed closures or the temporary opening of additional beds to cope with emergency situations. It is, however, the policy to maintain the average annualised figure at approximately 12,000 consultant-staffed general hospital beds.
I am circulating in the Official Report a table which sets out the final annualised figures by health board area for the years 1987-1990. The compilation of these statistics for 1991 is not yet complete.
Following is the table:
Number of Acute Consultant-Staffed General Hospital Beds.
Health Board Area |
1987 |
1988 |
1989 |
1990 |
Eastern |
5,698 |
4,975 |
5,044 |
4,987 |
Midland |
427 |
399 |
442 |
516 |
Mid-Western |
985 |
781 |
785 |
784 |
North-Eastern |
1,040 |
979 |
959 |
994 |
North-Western |
587 |
586 |
572 |
572 |
South-Eastern |
1,044 |
968 |
1,004 |
1,031 |
Southern |
2,086 |
1,803 |
1,740 |
1,720 |
Western |
1,211 |
1,235 |
1,220 |
1,264 |
Total |
13,078 |
11,726 |
11,766 |
11,868 |