Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

In the previous question the Deputy asked me if I had confidence in Professor Drumm. I have 100% confidence in him and think we are very lucky to have someone with his vision, determination and courage at the head of our health services. Given his clinical background, he brings enormous credibility to the HSE.

On the matter of publication of the task force report, I had no hand, act or part in its publication. I am unsure whether it was published or whether it came into the public domain by way of response to a freedom of information request. However, it is no secret to any active citizen that deficiencies exist in many of our accident and emergency departments. That fact is of no surprise to anybody. The challenge now is to put in place infrastructural improvements, some of which I mentioned. For example, significant investment is about to take place in Drogheda and we have already made significant investment in Wexford. Since the compilation of the report, many of the matters referred to in it have been dealt with.

The matter of the time, from arrival in accident and emergency units to admittance or going home, is one on which we need to concentrate. We should not just concentrate on the time spent on a trolley from the time a decision has been made to admit a patient. Often, the experience is that from the time people arrive, it is a couple of hours before any clinical expertise is available to them. That is the issue. I hope that in future the HSE will be in a position to put in place short time lines throughout the country.

Some 95% of the 3,000 people who visit accident and emergency units every day have a relatively pleasant experience. Research has shown that the issue concerns the remaining 5% in a few key hospitals. The HSE is working with those hospitals to improve performance.

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