Almost one in four acute hospital beds funded over the past two years have not been delivered, new figures from the Health Service Executive (HSE) show.
Under the HSE’s national service plans and winter plans in 2021 and 2022, a total of 1,228 additional acute inpatient beds were planned and funded. No additional beds were planned as part of this year’s winter plan.
However, of those, 304 remain undelivered, representing almost 25 per cent.
A total of 813 beds were delivered in 2021, with 111 delivered this year to date, according to figures released to Sinn Féin health spokesman David Cullinane in response to a parliamentary question.
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Acute hospitals are under increased pressure, with a record number of attendances to emergency departments in recent weeks.
So far this year, more than one million people have attended a hospital emergency department, up 5 per cent on last year. Admissions have risen by just 1 per cent, but by 8 per cent among often frailer over-75s.
Figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), published on Tuesday, said more than 100,000 patients have gone without beds in Irish hospitals so far this year.
Phil Ni Sheaghdha, INMO general secretary, said: “This is the earliest in any given year that trolley figures have reached this unacceptable level.”
Dr Colm Henry, the HSE’s chief clinical officer, last week confirmed some patients could expect to wait 24 hours before admission to hospital. “It’s something none of us want to tolerate particularly older people and for those who are unwell,” he added.
Mr Cullinane said there are “big questions” to be answered about why these beds haven’t been delivered yet, and on when they are expected to materialise.
“We had University Hospital Limerick in front of the Oireachtas committee saying they need 150 beds, and that wait times are through the roof. Hospitals are saying they need additional beds,” he said.
“The average wait time for admission to hospital is around 12-and-a-half hours. ... Having winter plans published on the eve of winter is not the way forward. It shows bad planning and a lack of urgency.”
He added: “We need these funded beds to be opened.”
A spokeswoman for the HSE said “a number of delays” have been experienced in delivering some of the remaining beds due to infection control requirements, increased time frames to complete capital works, construction challenges and recruitment challenges.
Of the remaining undelivered beds, 184 are currently profiled for delivery in 2023, 49 are under capital review, and the others will be delivered before end of year, she said.
