The Minister for Health Simon Harris has revealed that the Department of Health must provide a further 2,600 beds at the nations hospitals within the next 15 years in order to prevent further overcrowding.
Mr Harris’s comments come after a recent review found that the nations hospitals could be even further stretched in the coming years ahead unless changes are implemented.
Speaking before the Dáil on Wednesday the health minister said the current problem cannot be solved with just money, but instead reform and long-term investment is the answer to the issue which is growing by the day.
Mr Harris also revealed that the report’s evaluation of the situation is all the more concerning given that the above figure could potentially reach 7,000 unless there is major reform in the HSE.
The report which has already seen Mr Harris face stiff questioning from opposition TD’s, also found that the demand for homecare will increase by a further 70% by 2033.
Although Minister Harris claimed that changes can be implemented to improve the nations healthcare system, many opposing TD’s strongly feel that the Health Minister must act sooner rather than later given that he has done little to address the situation in the past 18 months.
The latest review could potentially lead to further questions when it comes to Harris’s position as health minister with many questioning his abilities to run the department.