Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Fine Gael)

I welcome the opportunity discuss the crisis that has arisen due to overcrowding in accident and emergency department of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. The debate on this motion is opportune as a delegation of the HSE visited the hospital last week. Its remit was to assess the situation with regard to the overcrowding at the accident and emergency department. The planned visit of the delegation arose following the meeting of the regional health forum for Dublin and the north east on Monday, 26 September. It is hoped that its visit will result in it seeing at first hand the crisis in the hospital and that this in turn will lead to a recommendation and, more importantly, to a national plan being devised and implemented to ease the situation at the hospital.

I do not want to pre-empt the findings of the delegation, particularly as it visited the hospital last week. I would be interested to hear its recommendations, particularly regarding the people who were on trolleys when they visited or for the 58 people who were on trolleys the week before that. I understand that figure was a new high for the hospital.

A number of factors have led to the increase in the number of patients in this department at the hospital and before I outline them it is important to recognise and compliment the front line staff at the hospital on the tremendous work they do under severe conditions. The level of care they provide is of the utmost professional level and I met three people over the weekend who confirmed this. The level of care within the hospital should be commended. The staff do great work under stressful conditions to alleviate the suffering of patients and aid their speedy recovery.

Moving on to some factors that have led to the crisis, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital serves a large geographic area that includes not only Louth and Meath, but north Dublin, Monaghan and Cavan. The hospital is under pressure from the demand from these catchment areas. In addition, there was a shortage of staff, particularly doctors, throughout the hospital. This shortage has led to an increased workload and the slow release of patients from the main hospital; they are not being released as quickly as necessary and beds are not being freed up. In addition, people are presenting themselves at the accident and emergency department who do not need to be there. The idea that a hospital is a first port of call when illness strikes must change. Only persons with acute problems should be there. Essentially, the accident and emergency department is being clogged up by those who could be seen in other facilities. For example, I come from Dundalk where there is a fantastic hospital with a minor injury unit. I plead with people in Dundalk and the surrounding areas to think twice when passing the hospital. I know they are under a bit of pressure and everything else, but it is a fantastic hospital, it is open 12 hours a day and I would appreciate if the people would call in. Also, if the people call to their local general practitioner, and are referred to the hospital, there is no additional charge.

It is important that the hospital system works quite well when one is admitted. The problem, or bottleneck, appears to be at admissions. When one is admitted, the attention and care works well. Perhaps an element is freeing up beds quicker. In addition, there needs to be an examination of the private versus public sector in the allocation of beds. This may free up more beds in the main hospitals.

I await with interest the report finding from the HSE delegation. In addition, I would welcome the opportunity to meet and discuss any proposals they make to alleviate the problem in the north-east leading hospital.

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