Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I see from both of the Deputies' contributions the frustration and seriousness of what they have spoken about. Unfortunately, I am not privy to some of the meetings that were held before I was asked to take this Topical Issue matter. As I outlined, however, the preparation and planning for the 2018-19 winter is well under way in hospitals at local level, the objective of which is to ensure the most effective response to the winter challenges to schedule care provision of any available resources. It is acknowledged that attendances at accident and emergency departments grow year on year, and the health service capacity review indicates Ireland has among the highest acute bed occupancy rate in the developing world, which is why we must invest in more beds in 2019.

We acknowledge the challenges we face are doubtless significant, but I firmly believe all of us in the House wish to find the right solutions for patient-centred, evidence-based results, focusing on sustainable solutions to challenges facing the health service. I assure both Deputies that in my capacity as Minister of State in the Department of Health, I will convey their frustration and serious concerns to the Minister as soon as I speak to him, which I hope will be sometime this evening.

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