Acute hospital bed figures show Government promises not delivered

DEPARTMENT of Health figures show that the average number of acute beds in public hospitals has increased by just over 400 since 2001, despite a Government promise of 3,000 extra beds by 2011.

In 2001, the average number of acute beds in public hospitals was 12,036 this figure had risen to just 12,444 by the end of March this year.

The Irish Patients' Association (IPA) said the figures had been supplied to them by Tánaiste and Health Minister Mary Harney last week.