Chaos in Irish emergency departments as new report shows high cost of buying new beds

Doctors say a shortage of beds is causing chaos in emergency Departments.

The Irish Medical Council’s releasing a report today – to highlight the lack of acute beds in hospitals across the country.

It comes as newly released figures show it costs around €325,000 to provide each new bed.

The Irish Times reports the statistic is contained in a new document drawn up by the Department of Health for the Oireachtas Committee on the future of our health service.

Just last week St Luke’s Hospital for Carlow/Kilkenny was recording amongst the highest numbers of people on trolleys in the country – which they attributed to delayed discharges.