The Minister for Health and Children, Mr Martin, has announced a £25 million "winter investment package" for acute hospitals to help curb the effects of the expected surge in admissions in the coming months.
The funding, which is in addition to the Government's scheduled health spending for winter, will go towards the recruitment of 25 extra accident and emergency consultants and 15 extra anaesthetists.
More aids and supports for older people will also be provided to help facilitate their early discharge from hospital and reduce the level of hospital readmissions.
In addition, at least 500 extra nursing home places for patients who have completed the acute phase of treatment will be created, and a new acute assessment unit at St James's Hospital, Dublin, will be developed.
Announcing the funding yesterday, the Department of Health and Children said the seasonal increase in activity at acute hospitals significantly affected their capacity to provide sufficient beds for patients requiring admission.
The appointment of additional consultants was designed to ensure early clinical intervention at a senior level, thereby reducing waiting times and improving patient access, the Department said. Recruitment is to begin in the coming weeks and, according to a Department spokesman, the posts are to be permanent.
He said the consultants would be based in hospitals throughout the State.
As well as increasing the speed of treatment in casualty wards, the investment package is aimed at reducing the number of acute beds which are inappropriately occupied in hospitals. Many beds are taken up by elderly patients who, having completed the acute stage of their treatment, have nowhere else to go.
Mr Martin said the provision of additional nursing home places would assist in this regard, helping to reduce the effect of inappropriately placed patients on the acute hospital system. The provision of medical appliances and aids was essential in facilitating the discharge of older people from hospitals and reducing the level of readmissions.
The extra funding will go towards a range of supports including walking aids, wheelchairs and special beds.
Also approved is a new acute assessment unit at St James's Hospital. It will be located next to the hospital's accident and emergency department and will provide for speedier consultant interaction. This is expected to result in shorter lengths of stay for patients and more efficient use of hospital beds.
In addition to the St James's unit, a number of minor injury and respiratory units are to be provided in the eastern region.
