Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It must be acknowledged that attendances in emergency departments are growing year on year and that the health service capacity review indicates that Ireland has among the highest acute bed occupancy rates in the developed world.

The objective of the plan is to ensure the most effective response within available resources to the winter challenges in terms of unscheduled care provision. The four-week enhanced focus period targeting nine sites of concern builds on the experience the HSE has developed in the successful management of recent major events. The winter plan seeks to increase home supports, transitional care beds, and bed capacity in acute and community settings. In addition to winter measures, €10 million will be ring-fenced in the national service plan 2019 to increase bed capacity.

I acknowledge the concerns of the Deputy regarding theory and practice and the capacity issue and reducing pressure on the system. Those are valid points. However, we must deal with urgent cases as a priority.

Taken together, these initiatives will increase the number of available inpatient beds in the acute hospital system to more than 11,000, a level last seen in 2009. Although the focus is often on new and additional measures that will be introduced, it is essential that the health system maximises the use of existing resources and facilities, including model 2 hospitals, minor injury clinics, GP out-of-hours services and primary care centres.

All Members know that the challenges we face are significant and we all want to find the right solutions. We want patient-centred, evidence-based, results-focused sustainable solutions to the challenges currently facing our health services. The winter plan published by the HSE today is a good plan which optimises the use of existing resources. It represents a system-wide response to the challenges the health system will face in the coming months and it will be led at local level by integrated teams representing community and hospital services.

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