Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

I also welcome the opportunity to say a few words as part of this important debate. I compliment the Technical Group, which is coping well without Deputy Twomey, on proposing a motion on issues which, in fairness, are of concern to many of us. It is expected of me to mention Tallaght during debates of this nature and I will do so on this occasion.

I would like briefly to raise a matter that I will not be able to discuss under other circumstances. I welcome the appointment yesterday by the Department of Foreign Affairs, through the Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, of my colleague, Mr. Chris Flood, whom I succeeded in the Dáil, as an envoy to Asia. I wish him well in that role.

I will not claim that there are no problems in Tallaght — of course it has problems, like everywhere else. I have spent a great deal of time concentrating on issues relating to Tallaght Hospital. That 29 people, in respect of whom a decision to admit has been made, are waiting on chairs and trolleys in the hospital's accident and emergency unit this morning indicates the challenge we face. Three other patients, in respect of whom a decision to admit has also been made, are waiting in what the hospital describes as "inappropriate observation beds". Nine people in other parts of the hospital, including the day ward, also need to be admitted.

As a Fianna Fáil backbencher and a strong supporter of the Government, including the Tánaiste and the Ministers of State at the Department of Health and Children, it is important to state that I support what they are trying to achieve. At the same time, it is right that I should acknowledge that there are problems in Tallaght. I intend to work with the Department to find solutions to the problems. I was a member of the board of Tallaght Hospital from 1987 to 2002, when I was elected to this House. I am proud of my involvement with the hospital. While it may not be in order, I am happy to acknowledge that the Ceann Comhairle was a progressive Minister for Health who ensured that Tallaght Hospital was built and developed.

I was informed by representatives of Tallaght Hospital this morning that its accident and emergency unit is extremely busy, just like all other hospitals in Dublin. That level of activity is a reflection of the continuing increase in the population of the hospital's catchment area. One should bear in mind that the hospital caters not only for the population of Tallaght, but also for patients from a wide area that stretches as far as Carnew, County Wicklow. Tallaght is the third largest centre of population in the State, after Dublin and Cork. It has a bigger population than Limerick. It is forecast that the population of the hospital's catchment area will continue to increase in the foreseeable future.

Tallaght Hospital has submitted plans for the development of an acute medical assessment unit adjacent to the accident and emergency facility. The planned unit, which will have 38 beds, will help to alleviate the pressure on the hospital's accident and emergency department. I ask the Minister and her officials to consider the proposals carefully. The hospital recently appointed two patient liaison officers, who facilitate communication about the triage system in accident and emergency units. The Department has also established an outpatient clinic for review patients. I understand that approximately 3,000 patients are referred to the clinic each year. The hospital also has an active wound care clinic, which treats approximately 2,000 patients each year.

I wish to refer to some other positive initiatives which have been developed at Tallaght Hospital recently. I have been assured by the management of the hospital that such initiatives have helped to improve the service provided at its accident and emergency unit. The opening of a short-stay observation ward within the accident and emergency department has enabled the hospital to observe and treat a number of minor conditions. The ward contains a chest pain assessment unit that treats patients who have a mild or moderate risk of their pain being of a cardiac nature, but do not have an initial definitive diagnosis.

There are problems in Tallaght, just as there are everywhere else. The Deputies who represent the area have a responsibility to highlight such matters and to work with the Department to ensure they are solved. Anybody who read this morning's Tallaght Echo— I am always happy to recommend that newspaper because it contains many interesting articles — will have read a report about the problem. The Tánaiste knows that there are difficulties in this area. I wish her well as she assists us in dealing with such matters.

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