HSE: More than 1,000 hospital beds are closed

MORE than 1,000 hospital beds are closed in facilities across the country and a further 630 are unavailable to patients due to delayed discharges of treated people.

The latest figures released by the HSE show that the significant blockage is apparent in the hospital system, escalating difficulties already apparent for both patients and staff.

According to the statistics, complete up to the end of August, a total of 1,044 beds were closed for a variety of health service reasons, which include ward closures, service changes and infection outbreaks.