Madam, - John P. Lamont (May 10th) takes issue with the opinion of Dr Peter Conlon regarding hospital beds being occupied by patients awaiting placement in appropriate convalescent facilities. The record clearly shows that this problem has been in existence for many years and continues to worsen.
The Department of Health and Children, in its own study of acute hospital bed capacity, estimated that 675 hospital beds could be made available if such practices were ended. In any given year a further 35,000 patients could be treated in those hospital beds.
While hospital and health service administrators may not be jumping up and down with glee that so many beds are unavailable, the sad fact is that no administrator has taken responsibility to ensure that appropriate facilities are in place, thereby ending this practice. - Yours, etc.,
DONAL DUFFY,
Assistant Secretary General,
Irish Hospital
Consultants Association,
Dundrum,
Dublin 14.