Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In Galway, the temporary emergency department has been open since late summer or early autumn. In fairness, that has helped and it is certainly a better environment for patients. That is welcomed. As that temporary emergency department has opened, it has allowed ten beds to be provided in the old emergency department, if you like, which has also improved flow. That is not to say there are not issues; I think yesterday morning there were 21 patients there, which is 21 too many. However, it could have been worse. This goes to show that beds make a difference where they are provided.

Those additional ten beds were not there in the previous winter because the temporary emergency department was not open. The concern is that the building will be handed over the builder to clear the site to start the process for a new emergency department. Will those beds be available next winter? That would be a concern. Clearly, if ten beds make a difference in a major city and regional hospital such as Galway, then everything should be done to ensure that all hospitals can avail of similar small and important numbers of beds. That is an important point. If you are preparing for next year’s winter plan, that the additional capacity would be provided in some fashion would be of concern in regard to Galway.