10 More Beds In Three years Is 'Sick Joke' Says FG

Despite spending increases of €3.1 billion over three years, the Irish health service has only gained 10 new beds, according to a Fine Gael spokesman.

TD, Dr James Reilly, has revealed that acute hospitals have gained just 10 in-patient beds between 2005 and 2007 and described the Health Minister's record as a 'sick joke'.

MR Reilly said: "An analysis of in-patient bed figures I have conducted shows a net gain of 10 beds since 2005.

"This is what the Minister has to show after three full years and a €40 billion spend - three in-patient beds a year."

Just last week, the Health Minister Mary Harney announced plans to free up patient beds called the co-location initiative, which was designed to minimize the use of public beds for private patients.

However, Mr Reilly maintained that: "In November 2006, Mary Harney provided an answer in the Dáil claiming that, 'the Government's commitment to increase total acute bed capacity is virtually complete.' when, in fact the total number of in-patient beds had fallen by 42 beds during the first full year of the Minister's tenure."

Between 2005 and 2007 the net gain in in-patient beds amounted to just 10. This occurred over a period when health spending increased from €11.9bn in 2005 to €15bn in 2007.

"This would be risible if it wasn't for the thousands of patients tragically affected by the Minister's ineptitude in health."

Mr Reilly added that the 200 patients on trolleys each day in July can blame the Minister's abject failure to increase capacity.

(DW)