Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I had the honour of visiting Galway University Hospital recently to talk to staff, patients and management. The clear need is for a new emergency department, which has been much talked about for many years and which we will deliver. I have provided the funding for the design team which is being appointed and it is important that its work is completed as quickly as possible so that I can ensure the new emergency department for Galway University Hospital is included in the mid-term capital review. It is vital we get the emergency department under way because that will assist staff in the clinical handover of patients from ambulances to the emergency department and will provide them with more capacity, better working conditions and privacy for patients.

It is a clinical consideration for the national ambulance service to decide which ambulance to prioritise getting back out onto the road. The hospital must deal with the patient's needs and triage them when they arrive in the emergency department but I will raise the two matters the Deputy raises with the national ambulance service and come back with a response.

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