John Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

3. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to address the overcrowding in the emergency Department and wards of University Hospital Waterford during the busy winter months; the number of the recently announced 440 additional beds that will be allocated to the hospital to increase its capacity; when these beds will open; the other measures, specific to the hospital, he has planned, to address regular overcrowding therein; his plans to address the number of delayed discharges at the hospital, particularly at weekends; his views that the shortage of residential follow-on aftercare placements for elderly patients deemed by the hospital medical staff to be medically well is adding to discharges being delayed, as many of these patients cannot be looked after at home by family members, and this is having an adverse effect on the bed shortages; his further plans to address this issue; if he will provide an update in relation to the promise to provide an additional 50-bed unit in Saint Patrick's Hospital in County Waterford; when planning permission will be sought; when building work will be carried out; his views on using the private sector to ease overcrowding at University Hospital Waterford during the particularly busy times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36667/15]

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