HSE accused of going back on 3,000 beds promise

HOSPITAL consultants have accused the Health Service Executive (HSE) of trying to weasel its way out of providing the state’s long-promised 3,000 extra acute public hospital beds by 2011.

A leaked HSE report warns that the exchequer faces a bill of more than €4 billion in providing new hospital beds unless drastic action is taken in providing primary and community care.

The report that will go before the Cabinet this week warns that without the investment in services to allow many more patients to be treated at home or in local facilities, 20,000 hospital beds will be needed by 2020. The estimate, based on healthcare trends, means that 8,500 additional beds, costing between €4,000 and €7,000 a week will be needed.