Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Government is listening to staff at the front line and to patients and their families. The problem is not being ignored by the Government but addressed by it, the HSE and hospital management. I remind the Deputy that the number on trolleys is significantly lower than when Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív and his colleagues had responsibility for the health service. That said, the number is still not low enough. No patient should have to remain on a trolley overnight. The objective should be to reduce the waiting time.

A problem that has arisen in Tallaght hospital is that there is a spike in the number of people presenting at the accident and emergency department. This may be due to the time of year. The issue is being addressed on a ward-round basis. Some elective procedures are being cancelled to deal with the beds issue. Staff are being met and I understand hospital management is to meet tomorrow to discuss staff concerns. Issues arise over the number of nursing staff, in particular, in the emergency department at the hospital. Additional staff are being recruited and the issue is being addressed.

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