§ Mr. MaginnisTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many intensive care beds there were in each of the Golden Six hospitals in Northern Ireland at 31 December 1998. [65947]
§ Mr. McFall[holding answer 18 January 1999]: The table shows the number of intensive care beds in acute hospitals at 31 December 1998.
Hospital Number of beds Altnagelvin Hospital 5 Antrim Hospital 4 Belfast City Hospital 7 Coleraine 4 Craigavon Area Hospital 4 Erne 2 Mater Infirmorum 2 Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children 6 Royal Victoria Hospital 14 Tyrone County 2 Ulster Hospital 6 Northern Ireland total 56
§ Mr. MaginnisTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many beds were (i) allocated and (ii) vacant within(a) maternity, (b) gynaecology and (c) paediatrics at Craigavon Area Hospital on the first of each month between September 1998 and January 1999. [65951]
§ Mr. McFall[holding answer 18 January 1999]: The information requested is set out in the table.
492W
Date Speciality Allocated Vacant 1 September 1998 Obstetrics 38 15 1 October 1998 Obstetrics 38 10 1 November 1998 Obstetrics 38 14 1 December 1998 Obstetrics 38 15 1 January 1999 Obstetrics 38 15 1 September 1998 Gynaecology 18 6 1 October 1998 Gynaecology 18 2 1 November 1998 Gynaecology 18 9
Date Speciality Allocated Vacant 1 December 1998 Gynaecology 18 3 1 January 1999 Gynaecology 18 11 1 September 1998 Paediatrics 22 6 1 October 1998 Paediatrics 22 3 1 November 1998 Paediatrics 36 21 1 December 1998 Paediatrics 36 13 I January 1999 Paediatrics 36 18 Notes:
1. The figures do not include the additional beds which will be opened to accommodate the transfer of services from South Tyrone Hospital (16 Obstetrics and 6 Gynaecology).
2. The figures relate to the 1st of each month at midnight.
3. Paediatric beds increased to 36 on 5 October 1998.
§ Mr. MaginnisTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many high dependency beds there are in each acute hospital in Northern Ireland; what was the percentage usage of these beds in each hospital in the last year for which figures are available; and if she will define the difference between high dependency and intensive care facilities. [65949]
§ Mr. McFall[holding answer 18 January 1999]: The table shows the average number of high dependency beds available daily and percentage occupancy in each acute hospital in Northern Ireland during 1998.
Hospital1 Average number of high dependency beds available daily Percentage occupancy of high dependency beds Antrim Hospital 4 43 Craigavon Hospital 2 77 Daisy Hill Hospital 5 82 Downe Hospital 3 60 Erne 3 50 Lagan Valley 2 80 Mater Infirmorum 5 80 Mid-Ulster 7 80 South Tyrone 7 74 Northern Ireland total 38 70 1Musgrave Park has 14 high dependency beds but is not, strictly speaking, an acute hospital. As regards the difference between high dependency and intensive care facilities, broadly speaking, intensive care is usually reserved for patients with potential or established organ failure. An Intensive Care Unit (ICU) should therefore offer the facilities for diagnosis, prevention and treatment of multiple organ failure.
A High Dependency Unit (HDU) is a clinical area offering a standard of care intermediate between the acute ward and full intensive care. The HDU should not manage patients with multi-organ failure but should provide monitoring and support to patients at risk of developing organ system failure. A HDU should be able to undertake short-term resuscitative measures and may provide ventilator support for a short time (usually less than 24 hours) prior to the transfer of a patient to an ICU.
§ Mr. MaginnisTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the average occupancy time for intensive care beds in Northern Ireland during 1998. [65948]
§ Mr. McFall[holding answer 18 January 1999]: The information requested is not collected centrally.