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

A decision will be made at that point as to whether it should continue. I acknowledge the enormous distress hospital overcrowding causes to patients who are required to wait for long periods on hospital trolleys for admission to a regular ward. I acknowledge also the distress it causes for staff. Having worked in three emergency departments, I know a little about that. I also have had relatives waiting on hospital trolleys for beds and I know a little bit about that too. I understand very much the distress it causes. While we have seen the trends going in the wrong direction all of this year, the figures are down significantly for November. Compared to November 2016, the figures are down approximately 25% according to the HSE's "Trolley Gar" figures. I do not know why that is. While it might be a blip, I hope it will be a sustained trend. The Minister has already outlined some of the actions he will be taking over the next number of months, including, in particular, greater investment in home care to allow more people to get home, which is the best place for them, as quickly as possible, thereby freeing up hospital capacity.

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