The number of acute hospital beds for public patients would have to increase to 20,000 to meet demand by 2020 according to a new report for the Health Service Executive (HSE).
The report found that under the current model of care and based on demographic trends, demand by public patients for acute hospital facilities would rise by 60 per cent over the next 12 years, requiring a 40 per cent increase in acute hospital bed numbers.
According to the HSE the capital cost of providing such increases would be about €4 billion - not including the cost of staffing these facilities.
The report, which will be published today also proposes a new integrated healthcare system with more emphasis on community and non-acute service as a preferred care model.
Under this model, the number of additional acute hospital beds required would be halved.