Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his contribution and the sentiments he expressed. In 2022, nearly 24,000 children presented at the urgent care centre, 91% of whom were discharged after their visit. As the Deputy knows, the urgent care centre at Connolly Hospital has a significant number of short-stay observation beds, in addition to the contemporary use of ICT to support ambulatory and urgent care and avoid unnecessary admissions.

Since March 2022, the demand for the urgent care centre at Connolly has grown beyond the planned level of service activity. This has resulted in long waiting times and has impacted on patient experience. Following clinical advice, CHI at Connolly is piloting a same-day appointment service over a three-month period. As I said, a digital swift-queue process on the CHI at Connolly website allows families to book an appointment at short notice. This may work. We need to give it a chance to work because the current situation is not favourable for the clinicians or the children and their families. As we all know, there is nothing worse than a young child who is sick having to wait for hours. At least parents will be able to book an appointment and then stay at home until they are ready. This appointment approach will result in less on-site waiting times for families, thereby supporting a better patient experience.

The appointment service will also redirect families, as appropriate, to the level of care most suitable to the patient's clinical needs, which could be a GP or an emergency department. I take on board the Deputy's point that in some cases it is difficult to find a GP and this is the reason families end up attending this service.

A pilot scheme will run for three months and there will be flexibility during the first month. I welcome the fact the Deputy will meet with CHI Ireland this week. We look forward to hearing the results of the audit.

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