Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have been in contact with the chairman of Beaumont about that matter because it is an issue of public concern and it is always a matter of concern to me when I hear of complaints about how people are treated on wards or in emergency departments in our hospitals, even though the vast majority of people who do speak to me tell me they have a very good experience of our hospitals once they get access to them. I am informed by the chairman of Beaumont Hospital that the individual case is being investigated and there is also a wider review of how elderly people are treated by that hospital. Beaumont is a voluntary hospital and is not a HSE hospital. It has its own chairman and board. It is important that is understood.

On the issue the Deputy gave us notice that he was raising, I acknowledge the difficulties the current surge in emergency department activity is causing for patients, their families and the staff, who are doing their utmost to provide safe, quality care in very challenging circumstances. As of 2 p.m. today, the number of people on trolleys had fallen to 306, with 214 on trollies for more than nine hours. This ranged from one in Cavan and Kilkenny to 32 in Beaumont, where more than 28 were on trollies for over nine hours. In Portiuncula there were three patients on trollies, two of whom were there for more than nine hours. While the numbers have come down during the day, they remain very high. It must be acknowledged that through the hard work of hospitals working together, supported by other HSE services, HSE management and my Department, we have significantly reduced the numbers, which peaked on 6 January. All hospitals have escalation plans to manage not only patient flow but also patient safety in a responsive, controlled and planned way that supports and ensures the delivery of optimum patient care. Triage is operated to prioritise patients so that those with most acute needs are seen and treated as soon as possible.

The Government has provided additional funding of €3 million in 2014 and €25 million in 2015 to address delayed discharges. The HSE is accessing all suitable non-acute accommodation to the maximum extent possible to allow those who have been clinically discharged to leave acute hospitals. Actions currently being taken to address emergency department overcrowding include the provision of 900 additional transitional care beds in nursing homes, with 500 opening in January and an additional 400 in February. Some 173 short-stay public beds are being opened across the country for a three month period. There have been difficulties in staffing these, although we continue to try to do so. Up to 300 overflow beds have opened in acute hospitals; 400 additional home care packages are being provided, along with 300 additional fair deal places and there will be an extension in community intervention teams. Anyone opposite who thinks I am only interested in engaging in commentary and analysis can see it is possible to take action as well as engaging in commentary and analysis. They are not mutually exclusive activities.

The HSE has the capacity to recruit where it needs additional staff. Arrangements are in place in the HSE to allow the recruitment of such staff where it has been established that there is an urgent service requirement. This year the number of nurses directly employed by the public health service will increase by at least 500. There will also be additional mental health nurses.

The Deputy will all be aware that I convened the emergency department task force to find long-term solutions to overcrowding by providing additional focus and momentum in dealing with the challenges presented by the current trolley waits. It is made up of relevant stakeholders such as senior doctors, lead hospital consultants, GPs, HSE national directors, union representatives and senior officials from my Department and the HSE. The HSE is currently finalising an action plan under the auspices of the emergency department task force with a view to delivering a significant reduction in trolley waits over the course of 2015. I am determined that the action plan be completed as soon as possible, taking the views of the task force into account, and then made operational without delay. The task force is due to meet again on 9 March.

I want to reassure all Members present that we are working hard to find workable solutions to the management of emergency care, with optimum patient care and patient safety at all times remaining a Government priority.

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