James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

The waiting times for patients attending emergency departments in many hospitals during last winter and in particular the first week of January of this year were unacceptable. I am determined that this should not happen again.

The difficulties in emergency departments cannot be resolved solely within the emergency departments themselves and must be addressed on the basis of a health-system wide approach. This must start with ensuring that patients are treated in the most appropriate way in the most appropriate location. This means that where and whenever possible patients who can be treated in the primary care setting receive that treatment in a timely manner. This will ensure that patients can be confident of receiving the necessary treatment on time and that there is less need for patients to attend at emergency departments. Specifically, we need to address waiting lists for inpatient procedures - as patients are left waiting they become emergencies and end up in emergency departments.

I am in discussions with the HSE and my Department and we will have a clear plan of action to address the problems in emergency departments both for the coming year and in the long term. I am confident that with careful planning, with the implementation of the HSE's emergency medicine programme and related clinical programmes, and the roll-out of acute medicine units we will be in a position to reassure patients that the experience in emergency departments during last winter will not be repeated.

I have already stated my intention to establish a special delivery unit to tackle the problem of waiting lists including difficulties in emergency departments. Intensive work is now being undertaken in preparing the ground for the unit's establishment. I have held a range of meetings to discuss with my officials and the HSE the most effective methodology for setting up the unit and we are progressing this work with all urgency. I am very pleased to say we are getting very good co-operation.

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