Latest news with #AoifeBrick
Irish Daily Mirror
28-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
Up to 6,800 new inpatient beds may be required by 2040, report finds
Public acute hospitals will need to increase inpatient bed capacity by between 40 per cent and 60 per cent by 2040, according to a new report. A continued increase in population, particularly at older ages, will drive the increased demand, according to the Economic and Social Research Institute publication on Wednesday. Ireland's population is projected to increase from 5.3 million in 2023 to between 5.9-6.3 million by 2040, with the range reflecting differing assumptions on future migration trends. The number of people aged 65 years and over will increase from 1 in 7 of the population in 2023 to 1 in 5 by 2040. This age group are particularly high users of hospital services, accounting for over 60 per cent of inpatient bed days in 2023. The Department of Health-funded research projects that emergency department attendances will grow from 1.6 million to more than two million by 2040. Outpatient department attendances are projected to grow from 4.6 million in 2023, to between 5.5 and 5.9 million by 2040. Day patient discharges are projected to grow from 1.2 million in 2023, to between 1.5 and 1.6 million. Inpatient discharges are projected to grow from 650,000 to up to 900,000. Inpatient bed days are projected to increase from 3.9 million in 2023, to between 5.1 and 6.0 million in 2040. The ESRI research states that there will be a requirement for an additional 650 to 950 day patient beds by 2040 – a growth of between 25-37 per cent. In addition, it projects a requirement for between 4,400 to 6,800 inpatient beds – an increase of between 40 per cent and 60 per cent. Even at the lower end of the projections, the report highlights the need for substantial additional capacity to meet increases in demand for hospital services by 2040. The analysis shows how different policy choices like reducing inpatient length of stay and waiting list management can alter the projections. Dr Aoife Brick, senior research officer at the ESRI and lead author of the report, said: "Our findings highlight significant future growth in demand for public acute hospital services, driven primarily by population growth and ageing. The report offers policymakers evidence on the scale of service expansion needed to meet future demand." Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill welcomed the review and said: "This evidence base is crucial for future planning, ensuring we have the facilities to provide the best care to patients. "Increasing bed numbers and the necessary resources and workforce requires careful long-term planning." The Programme for Government has committed to delivering thousands more beds through the acute bed capacity expansion plan, new surgical hubs and elective treatment centres.
RTÉ News
28-05-2025
- Health
- RTÉ News
One-third of ICU admissions within one hour of decision
One-third of admissions from emergency departments or wards into intensive care happened within one hour of the decision being made to admit, while 87% were admitted within four hours, a report has found. The Irish National ICU Audit annual report, published by The National Office of Clinical Audit (NOCA), highlights pressures on capacity within ICUs across the public hospital system. It found the national average occupancy rate for ICU beds is 95% - well above the recommended rate of 85%. Despite the pressures, NOCA said the ICU network maintained "high quality outcomes" compared to international standards. It said 80% of ICU patients survived to the point of being discharged, adding this is "satisfactory" considering the severity of illness of patients who were admitted to ICU. Commenting on the findings, the Clinical Lead for the Irish National ICU Audit said the study "highlights the resilience and quality of care delivered across Irish ICUs, despite significant resource challenges". "While our overall outcomes are encouraging, the data underlines persistent issues, particularly in terms of bed capacity and timely admission to ICU," Professor Rory Dwyer said. The report recommends continued investment to expand ICU capacity, maintaining a focus on timely access to critical care and further development of ICU outreach services to support deteriorating patients outside of ICU settings. Meanwhile, the number of inpatient beds in acute public hospitals will need to increase by at least 4,400 by 2040, if the State is to keep up with the demands of an aging population, according to new research. New projections from the Economic and Social Research Institute have revealed that the number of required additional beds for inpatient services could reach 6,800 at the higher end of the scale. That would represent an increase on the current bed capacity of between 40% and 60%. It is forecast that the population could increase from 5.3 million people to anywhere between 5.9 million to 6.3 million by 2040, while the number of people over the age of 65 will go from one in seven to one in five. The ESRI's Health Service Capacity Review report said an additional 650 to 950 day patient beds by 2040 are needed to meet projected growth requirements, which would represent an increase of between 25% and 37%. It has also noted the occupancy rates across all beds in the public system are at 92.6%. Dr Aoife Brick, Senior Research Officer at the ESRI and lead author of the report, said the findings "highlight significant future growth in demand for public acute hospital services, driven primarily by population growth and ageing". "The report offers policymakers evidence on the scale of service expansion needed to meet future demand," Dr Brick added. In the Programme for Government, there is a pledge to "increase capacity by between 4,000 and 4,500 new and refurbished inpatient hospital beds across the country". Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said the report "allows us to better anticipate future healthcare demand and capacity". This, she said, will ensure "our health system evolves to meet the needs of our changing population". "I look forward to ongoing engagement with the ESRI and our colleagues in the HSE as we continue to develop and strengthen our future capacity plans," the minister added. Reacting to the report, Sinn Féin said it lays bare the failure by Government to get ahead of increasing capacity in acute hospitals, which the party claims has led to overcrowding and extremely dangerous situations in emergency departments. Sinn Féin's Spokesperson on Health David Cullinane said he has been "calling on the Government in each and every budget to provide the capital funding to increase bed capacity". "They have failed to do this over the last five years," he said. "The Government have to make the investments over the next number of years. They are playing catch up," he added.
RTÉ News
28-05-2025
- Health
- RTÉ News
More inpatient beds needed by 2040 to meet demand
The number of inpatient beds in acute public hospitals will need to increase by at least 4,400 by 2040, if the State is to keep up with the demands of an aging population, according to new research. New projections from the Economic and Social Research Institute have revealed that the number of required additional beds for inpatient services could reach 6,800 at the higher end of the scale. That would represent an increase on the current bed capacity of between 40% and 60%. It is forecast the population could increase from 5.3 million people to anywhere between 5.9 million - 6.3 million by 2040, while the number of people over the age of 65 will go from one in seven to one in five. The ESRI's Health Service Capacity Review report said an additional 650 to 950 day patient beds by 2040 are needed to meet projected growth requirements, which would represent an increase of between 25% and 37%. It has also noted the occupancy rates across all beds in the public system are at 92.6%. Dr Aoife Brick, Senior Research Officer at the ESRI and lead author of the report, said the findings "highlight significant future growth in demand for public acute hospital services, driven primarily by population growth and ageing". "The report offers policymakers evidence on the scale of service expansion needed to meet future demand," Dr Brick added. In the Programme for Government, there is a pledge to "increase capacity by between 4,000 and 4,500 new and refurbished inpatient hospital beds across the country". Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said the report "allows us to better anticipate future healthcare demand and capacity". This, she said, will ensure "our health system evolves to meet the needs of our changing population". "I look forward to ongoing engagement with the ESRI and our colleagues in the HSE as we continue to develop and strengthen our future capacity plans," the minister added. Reacting to the report, Sinn Féin said it lays bare the failure by Government to get ahead of increasing capacity in acute hospitals, which the party claims has led to overcrowding and extremely dangerous situations in emergency departments. Sinn Féin's health spokesperson David Cullinane said he has been "calling on the Government in each and every budget to provide the capital funding to increase bed capacity". "They have failed to do this over the last five years," he said. "The Government have to make the investments over the next number of years. They are playing catch up," he added. Meanwhile, a separate report has found just one third of admissions from emergency departments or wards into intensive care happened within one hour of the decision being made to admit, while 87% were admitted within four hours. The Irish National ICU Audit annual report, published by The National Office of Clinical Audit (NOCA), highlights pressures on capacity within ICUs across the public hospital system. It found the national average occupancy rate for ICU beds is 95% - well above the recommended rate of 85%. Despite the pressures, NOCA said the ICU network maintained "high quality outcomes" compared to international standards. It said 80% of ICU patients survived to the point of being discharged, adding this is "satisfactory" considering the severity of illness of patients who were admitted to ICU. Commenting on the findings, Professor Rory Dwyer, Clinical Lead for the Irish National ICU Audit, said the study "highlights the resilience and quality of care delivered across Irish ICUs, despite significant resource challenges". "While our overall outcomes are encouraging, the data underlines persistent issues, particularly in terms of bed capacity and timely admission to ICU," he said. The report recommends continued investment to expand ICU capacity, maintaining a focus on timely access to critical care and further development of ICU outreach services to support deteriorating patients outside of ICU settings.
Belfast Telegraph
27-05-2025
- Health
- Belfast Telegraph
Up to 6,800 new inpatient beds may be needed by 2040, report finds
A continued increase in population, particularly at older ages, will drive the increased demand, according to the Economic and Social Research Institute publication on Wednesday. Ireland's population is projected to increase from 5.3 million in 2023 to between 5.9-6.3 million by 2040, with the range reflecting differing assumptions on future migration trends. The number of people aged 65 years and over will increase from 1 in 7 of the population in 2023 to 1 in 5 by 2040. This age group are particularly high users of hospital services, accounting for over 60% of inpatient bed days in 2023. The Department of Health-funded research projects that emergency department attendances will grow from 1.6 million to more than two million by 2040. Outpatient department attendances are projected to grow from 4.6 million in 2023, to between 5.5 and 5.9 million by 2040. Day patient discharges are projected to grow from 1.2 million in 2023, to between 1.5 and 1.6 million. Inpatient discharges are projected to grow from 650,000 to up to 900,000. Inpatient bed days are projected to increase from 3.9 million in 2023, to between 5.1 and 6.0 million in 2040. The ESRI research states that there will be a requirements for an additional 650 to 950 day patient beds by 2040 – a growth of between 25-37%. In addition, it projects a requirement for between 4,400 to 6,800 inpatient beds – an increase of between 40% and 60%. Even at the lower end of the projections, the report highlights the need for substantial additional capacity to meet increases in demand for hospital services by 2040. The analysis shows how different policy choices like reducing inpatient length of stay and waiting list management can alter the projections. Dr Aoife Brick, senior research officer at the ESRI and lead author of the report, said: 'Our findings highlight significant future growth in demand for public acute hospital services, driven primarily by population growth and ageing. The report offers policymakers evidence on the scale of service expansion needed to meet future demand.' Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill welcomed the review and said: 'This evidence base is crucial for future planning, ensuring we have the facilities to provide the best care to patients. 'Increasing bed numbers and the necessary resources and workforce requires careful long-term planning.' The Programme for Government has committed to delivering thousands more beds through the acute bed capacity expansion plan, new surgical hubs and elective treatment centres.
