Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

Gabhaim buíóchas leis an Teachta Bannon as ucht an cheist a árdú agus aontaíom leis gurb ospidéal den scoth é Mullingar. I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney.

The HSE accepts that there was a problem in the emergency department at Mullingar Hospital earlier this month which required the hospital to be off-call for emergencies for 24 hours. However, during this period, it was not necessary for any patient to be transferred by ambulance to the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore in accordance with the by-pass protocol. Since then, all patients in the emergency department were either admitted or discharged within the target of six hours set by the HSE this year. The hospital's budget for 2009 is in excess of €64 million, increased from €54.8 million in 2006. The hospital has been recognised as being one of the most efficient in the country in the context of the annual casemix adjustment. Last year, the hospital scored one of the highest in the country with a positive casemix adjustment of €1.977 million.

It should be noted that inpatient activity at Mullingar hospital to the end of October was similar to last year, while day case activity was up by 6% year on year. Up to end October this year, there were 27,436 emergency attendances, a reduction of 4.8% on the same period last year. Mullingar hospital, in common with all other agencies, is required to manage its services within the approved allocation and to run its services within the approved employment ceiling. It is envisaged that the hospital will break-even this year and will be within its employment ceiling by year end.

In November, patients were transferred from old accommodation at Mullingar hospital to state-of-the-art accommodation in the newly upgraded wards at the hospital. The new wards are a major improvement in terms of standard of care that can be afforded to patients. Under the new arrangements, the number of inpatient beds has been reduced from 220 to 199, and the number of day beds has increased by 13, from 11 to 24. In addition, there are five extra observation beds. These changes are very much in line with international practice, which aims to encourage a greater emphasis on the practice of day care medicine.

The revised bed complement in place as a result of the move to the new hospital has been fully endorsed by the consultant surgeons and consultant obstetricians at the hospital. In addition, many discussions led by the clinical director have taken place with all relevant consultant staff at the hospital to increase the throughput of surgical and gynaecology work at the hospital. The provision of additional day ward beds as detailed will facilitate this increase in workload. The hospital has commenced a bed utilisation study with a view to establishing that all beds within the hospital are being utilised to maximum effect. The results of this study will help to identify any barriers to maximum utilisation of the inpatient beds and hospital management will act on the results of the study as soon as it is finalised.

As previously noted, there has also been an increase in the number of observation unit beds from six to 11. These beds are strategically located next to the emergency department to cater for the overflow of patients from the emergency department which can occur from time to time. The hospital also intends to increase the throughput of patients through the medical assessment unit which will also alleviate pressure in the emergency department.

I am confident that the hospital will continue to provide the best possible quality of care for all its patients.

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