Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy made an important point with the connection between home care packages and that a significant proportion of the patients are over the age of 75. The Deputy is correct that we are talking about people's lives and that these are real and significant challenges.

I will give a supplementary response on the emergency department performance at UHL. I will provide a copy to the Deputy when I conclude. The Government is committed to addressing the issues at UHL. Significant resources have been invested in UHL in recent years. This has led to an increase in UHL's workforce of 34% - or 963 whole-time equivalents - since the end of 2019. The Minister for Health recently opened new theatres, wards and clinical areas at Croom Orthopaedic Hospital, which includes the development of an ambulatory trauma service that facilitates transfer of trauma patients from UHL for surgery and recovery, improving patient flow and emergency department congestion.

Part of the solution for UHL is additional beds, and 98 new inpatient beds have opened in UHL since the start of 2020. Work on the new 96 single-bed patient block commenced in September 2022. Construction is expected to take two years to complete. Pending planning approval, the next step is the development of the second 96-bed block, and this will continue. The Department regularly seeks assurance regarding the appropriate escalation of measures for emergency department overcrowding.

Reform of service delivery as outlined in Sláintecare is vital to deal with the increased demand. This includes the expansion of community care and other measures providing people with the care they need outside of the emergency department, improving patient flow and discharge from hospital with more support packages and nursing home supports. Increased funding is being provided for additional GP access to diagnostics in primary care allowing for patients to be referred directly for X-rays or scans in the mid-west. More than 1,400 of these scans are being completed each month.

The matter of emergency department performance is under constant review by the Department of Health through ongoing engagement with the HSE. I assure the Deputy that the Government and the Minister are committed to improving emergency department performance.

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