Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Planning for winter 2018-19 has begun at hospital and local level. The Department of Health is working with the HSE to ensure these local and regional plans are consolidated and supported through policies and plans at national level to ensure the most effective response to the winter challenges to unscheduled care provision. The budget allocated an additional €10 million to prepare for and manage the expected peak in demand for health services over the coming winter. The funding will focus on initiatives to enable the hospital system to de-escalate before Christmas. Supporting patients in the over-75 age group will be a particular priority along with measures to respond to a surge in capacity and provide transitional beds and care as well as aids and appliances to support patients on their journey home following a hospital stay. We are trying as best we can to prepare hospitals for the increased pressure on service delivery and we have a significant budget to so do.

See this speech in context