Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This Government does not do that. We recognise the scale of the challenge we have faced as a country and as a people from the point of view of the economy and how that impacts on people every day. Today, on 10 February, the number of patients on trolleys was 462 at 8 a.m. The Irish Nurses & Midwives Organisation also counts patients on trolleys on wards and that increases the number to more than 500. Yesterday, on 9 February, the number was 332 at 8 a.m., and 253 at 2 p.m. The day before, on Sunday, it was 280 at 8 a.m. and 189 at 2 p.m. On Saturday, 7 February, it was 237 at 8 a.m. and 150 at 2 p.m. The Minister has recognised the challenge that is there and has set up the particular task force to deal with emergency departments and numbers on trolleys. He has also pointed out how this has been exacerbated in respect of the flu-related admissions where approval was given to open up 173 extra beds in 15 units across the country for a specific 13-week period. The Department and the Minister have not tried to sweep under the carpet the scale of this challenge.

An allocation of €25 million was given to the fair deal scheme to reduce the waiting periods from 16 weeks and 17 weeks to what might be regarded as much more manageable periods of 11 weeks and eight weeks. It is not a satisfactory position but the simple fact of the matter is that it is very difficult to determine all the issues that can arise in health from week to week given that one does not know the scale of flu-related incidents or whatever else. The HSE is now accessing all suitable non-acute accommodation for dealing with and providing services to people who come in through emergency departments. The €25 million allocation in the national service plan is being used in addition to funding 50 transitional beds in the greater Dublin area, 65 beds that are to come on-stream in Mount Carmel on a phased basis from April and additional home care packages. Having regard to some hospitals around the country, I know of one nursing home which sent in nine patients one evening because of flu-related illnesses; these were elderly people who were not able to be attended to in an appropriate medical service within the nursing homes in question. These matters make the situation worse and it is not satisfactory but the Minister is acutely aware of it. He set up a particular unit to look at this and the HSE, as the Deputy knows, has the capacity to recruit necessary front-line services where that is necessary. As we pointed out on a number of occasions, we hope that the situation can be regularised and made more amenable.

I point out to the Deputy that €600 million more was allocated to the health budget for 2015 in order to deal with the challenges which arose from 2013 right through 2014.

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