Pat Gallagher (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney. She has asked me to apologise to Deputy Michael D. Higgins as she is unable to attend the House at this time.

The Health Service Executive has advised that University College Hospital Galway has been extremely busy over the past 24 hours or so. Deputy Higgins has provided information to the House in this respect. The HSE has also advised that the hospital put in place a contingency plan to address these pressures in order to ensure that all patients are accommodated today and that no patient is required to wait more than 24 hours for admission.

The HSE has also advised that it has made significant progress at University College Hospital Galway by improving the discharge planning process and increasing the uptake on day care in line with the findings of the bed utilisation review commissioned by the HSE.

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