Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly. I thank Deputy Paul Donnelly for raising the question of overcrowding at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown. Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, is a major teaching academic hospital within the RCSI Hospitals Group. It has a catchment population of upwards of 331,000 people and serves a mixed urban and rural catchment, including Finglas west, Lucan, Dublin 15, north Kildare and south Meath. In addition to 24-hour emergency care, scheduled services include acute medical and surgical care, acute psychiatric services and outpatient diagnostic, therapeutic and support services. It is recorded that there has been a significant increase in demand for emergency care nationwide in 2024, with approximately 122,000 emergency department attendances in January. This is an increase of 10% compared with the same periods in 2022 and 2023.

The Department of Health has been in communication with the RCSI Hospitals Group and understands that Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, experienced a surge in emergency department attendance in early February. Having done my own checks, that surge occurred on 7 and 8 February. In response to this surge and following a risk assessment, on the night of 7-8 February, some suitable patients were transferred from the emergency department to an appropriate ward area while awaiting discharge. The priority was to reduce clinical risk and relieve pressure on the emergency department. I checked this and the area in question is a physiotherapy department, not formally a gym, and it is not longer in use as a ward area for the emergency department.

The Minister's officials have been in ongoing contact with the RSCI Hospitals Group on this issue. I understand how difficult this has been for patients and staff. The priority was to reduce clinical risks and relieve pressure on the emergency department at that time. The area is no longer in use for that purpose.

Urgent and emergency care pressures are no longer just experienced during winter periods and prolonged levels of high daily presentations and congestion are now being experienced throughout the year. Presentations to emergency departments of those aged 75 years and older were up 33% and 26% nationally compared with the same period in 2022 and 2023, respectively. As of 9 February, 1,126 non-ICU acute beds have been provided nationally over the number available in January 2020. This includes 78 beds in Connolly Hospital.

The Government is committed to the development of large hospitals such as Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown. A number of key projects are under way at various stages at Connolly Hospital. The Taoiseach met hospital management in December to discuss the developments at the hospital.

The new Connolly education and research centre aims to transform the educational programmes and enhance the student experience for graduate entry medicine students and clinical placement students based at the hospital. This new building is well on the path to completion, with all structural works completed and internal works progressing. Construction is due for completion in May 2024 and the building should welcome the first intake of students later this year. A dental education centre, including endocrinology, rheumatology and an infusion suite, is also planned for Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, and a second CT scanner will be provided for diagnostics services at the hospital.

This investment underlines this Government’s commitment to improving services for the people of Blanchardstown and the surrounding area. The Government recognises the valuable work done by the staff in Connolly Hospital and aims to support the ongoing development of services at the hospital.

While I recognise the difficulties caused to patients, the physiotherapy unit used to relieve pressure on 7 and 8 February is no longer in use for that purpose.

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