Free Republic

There were 704 patients in hospitals waiting for admission to a bed this morning, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organization. The hospitals worst affected are University Hospital Limerick with 105 patients waiting, Cork University Hospital with 68 patients waiting, Tallaght University Hospital with 51 patients waiting and Sligo University Hospital with 44. The high overcrowding comes after the May Bank Holiday weekend. […] The HSE said that each hospital group implemented plans to alleviate overcrowding in their hospital EDs over the bank holiday weekend, adding that hospital and community teams continue to work closely to identify patients suitable...

The Illinois Department of Public Health quietly removed thousands of available hospital beds from their data showing how much capacity Illinois’ medical centers have. The number of available hospital beds is closely tracked by the state as a barometer of how much stress the COVID-19 pandemic is placing on Illinois’ medical system. The state has more than 30,000 total general use hospital beds. The lower the number of free beds, the worse the COVID-19 pandemic is becoming. “We actually need to know how many beds are available that have staff that could actually work it,” Ezike said. “When you put...

NEW: NY Gov. Cuomo says expert projections show expected peak of coronavirus cases in New York in 45 days. Cuomo says state will need 55,000-110,000 hospital beds and 18,600-37,200 ICU beds at projected peak, and that state currently has 53,000 hospital beds and 3,000 ICU beds. NBC News Twitter

It costs about €325,000 in construction and capital costs alone nowadays to provide an additional hospital bed. That’s according to a confidential submission drawn up by the Department of Health for the new Oireachtas committee looking at the future of the health service. It says that “based on current tender returns and space standards, the construction costs of a replacement hospital bed is in the region of €325,000, not including equipping costs”. As a rule of thumb, it adds, annual ongoing revenue costs of operating an additional hospital bed run to €78,000 per year.