Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

Improving the delivery of accident and emergency services continues to be a top priority for the Government and the Health Service Executive. Our objectives are to further reduce the numbers waiting for admission, the time spent waiting for admission and the turnaround time for those who do not require admission. The Health Service Executive continues to report a significant reduction in the number of patients awaiting admission as compared with the same period 12 months ago. During the first nine months of 2007 the average number of patients awaiting admission each day was 91. This compares with an average of 165 patients during the first nine months of 2006, representing an average reduction of 45%. The initial target waiting time of 24 hours from decision to admit is now being met by the majority of hospitals and the HSE has introduced a revised target of 12 hours since the beginning of this month. The ultimate objective is a total wait time target of six hours from the time a patient presents at the emergency department to the time he or she is either admitted to an acute bed or is treated and discharged home.

Following publication of the emergency department task force report on 1 June, the HSE has commenced a formal process of engagement with the Irish Association of Emergency Care Medicine. The association has agreed to work with the HSE on a range of issues, including the standardisation of patient processes and pathways within emergency departments.

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