Dáil debates

Wednesday, 11 May 2005

 

Accident and Emergency Services.

1:00 pm

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

The Deputy's point is fair. Clearly, issues exist with the volume of people who present if there is no access to general practitioner services or any provision of patient appointments. They often end up on hospital beds awaiting tests. However, hospitals can take many actions, such as through their discharge policies. I have cited the respiratory physician at James Connolly Hospital, Dr. Conor Burke, previously. He said that, if everyone was discharged in his hospital when they were medically fit to be discharged, no one would be on a trolley. Discussions are taking place in individual hospitals on the issues of discharge policies and freeing up beds to allow those who require admission to be taken. I do not know how many hospitals have decided to put beds on wards, although some have. I recently met the——

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