Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The issue of the number of people waiting on trolleys presents a serious challenge for the comfort and care of patients being admitted through emergency departments. If one considers that some of these people are terminally ill, oncology patients and so on, it really puts into context why we need to deal with this issue. I have no doubt this is top of the agenda. The Minister for Health, in his contribution, put his finger on it. The problem of patients on trolleys is a manifestation of symptoms, concerns, issues and problems elsewhere in the health system. In my experience of dealing with constituents, I am glad to say that when people actually get into the public health system, they have many good things to say. We all know that delays and waiting times to get into it are the problem.

The other issue is clear. Listening to people talk about the situation in other hospitals, whether Mayo General Hospital, Beaumont Hospital or St. James's Hospital, it seems there are different dynamics, different problems and different issues to be addressed, so one size does not fit all in regard to resolution of the problem.

I have to compliment the management and staff of Mayo General Hospital. Since this Government came into office, it has made serious inroads into addressing issue of people on trolleys. Through various measures taken between 2011 to 2013, there was a 64% reduction in that period in the number of people waiting on trolleys, including bed management, looking at step-down facilities and so on. At that stage, the national average reduction was 20%. However, we have a problem now and it continues to flare up. I have no doubt that in the short term, with the sort of resources the Minister has said will be put into addressing this, there will be an abeyance of the problem but an abeyance does not mean it will not flare up again because there is an underlying problem.

There is a problem in Mayo General Hospital with delays in discharging patients, but Deputy Neville referred to a problem with capacity. There is a serious problem with capacity, aside from the issue of delays in discharging patients. There has been the massive increase in the number of people presenting to emergency departments. The emergency department in Mayo General Hospital was designed to deal with 20,000 patients per year but is now dealing with 35,000 patients per year. Some of this is down to the closure of the emergency department in Roscommon hospital. This is borne out by evidence of the addresses of people presenting at accident and emergency department in Mayo General Hospital. Many of these people are coming from Roscommon. Many of the additional people presenting are elderly people with chronic illnesses. The business of addressing the problem is beyond delays in discharging patients. There is simply not enough capacity.

I am aware that a business case is being made to the west-north west hospital group through the HSE on behalf of Mayo General Hospital to provide additional capacity in the emergency department and also to provide additional medical beds. If we cannot plan for this, I do not think we will ever get the bottom of the problem. Will the Minister make funding available for this? The idea of the hospital trusts is that the medical needs going forward would be catered for in particular areas. I would like to see this made a reality and funding for an extension to the hospital provided.

The issue that needs to be addressed is why people with chronic illnesses are presenting. It would seem that under the strains and burdens of the budgetary cuts that have taken place, we need to refocus funding. I know it is the buzzword but we really need to see this happening on the ground, with primary care, community care and home care packages being provided. These are the sorts of supports people need in their homes in order that chronic conditions, which we know will not be cured, can be managed. People could stay in their homes and would not be going into acute hospitals. We all know of the issue with the fair deal scheme. We have a number of district hospitals in my county. Previously, €300,000 was granted from the special delivery unit which allowed ten beds to open. That really helped the whole trolley situation in Mayo General Hospital. We also have Swinford and Belmullet district hospitals. Approaching this at either end will lead to a solution. I would like to see specific actions in regard to the problem in Mayo General Hospital.

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