Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I did not form a Cabinet sub-committee on health in the beginning because we thought these matters might be assimilated into a smaller number of committees. That did not prove possible, however, and as a result of observations in the House, I formed a special committee on health. The sub-committee on health used to meet every quarter, but since the first meeting of the sub-committee, it will meet every month for six months and the position will then be reviewed.

The Deputy has referred to the position at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda on a number of occasions. The special delivery unit set up by the Minister for Health has focused and is focusing on accident and emergency departments and dealing with the situation described by the Deputy. When I was in opposition I found it unacceptable and still do.

Eight of the hospitals visited by the special delivery unit require high support, including Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda. As part of the engagement with the unit, the hospitals have prepared plans setting out measures that could be taken quickly in the hospital or community concerned to significantly reduce pressure on the accident and emergency department. Following consideration of the matter and as part of the overall process followed by the special delivery unit, a package of short-term measures has been agreed for Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda. The supports being provided for it and other hospitals are dependent on a range of conditions being met. These include a commitment on the part of the hospital to progress implementation of the HSE acute medicine programme and ensure the hospital has seven day ward discharge rounds and, in particular, the cost of additional capacity funded by the initiative must not be offset by making reductions elsewhere. A sum of €725,710 is being made available for proposals relating to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda between now and the end of the year. The measures being taken are aimed at easing the pressure in Drogheda and also involve Louth County Hospital, Dundalk and Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, as well as community measures. These measures comprise additional assisted discharge packages, including home help, home care and funding for aids and appliances; the extension of the hours of the acute medical assessment unit at Drogheda to 18 hours a day, seven days a week; the opening of eight medical beds in Drogheda; the opening of an additional 28 low-acuity beds in Louth and Navan, and the opening of an additional 27 low-acuity beds in the community. The funding support is dependent on the hospital meeting the performance conditions set down. The special delivery unit will be monitoring the position closely. I hope the plans being implemented at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, will quickly address what is, without question, an unacceptable level of overcrowding in the accident and emergency department.

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