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

I thank Senator Landy for raising this matter. I also congratulate him on his election to the Seanad. I am aware of his background of dealing with major concerns over the last number of years, particularly with regard to health and disability issues.

With regard to South Tipperary General Hospital, Clonmel, I understand that the increasing demand on the emergency department and the increasing numbers of patients requiring admission have resulted in delays for patients accessing inpatient beds within the current available capacity. There have been persistent monthly increases in emergency department attendances at the hospital this year compared to the same period in 2015. Such increases are broadly in line with the national experience. The Department of Health has been assured, however, that, with a view to improving the current situation, the south-south west hospital group and South Tipperary General Hospital are strengthening the management structures in the hospital, expanding capacity, improving infrastructure, reviewing processes and intensifying relationships with their community and primary care colleagues. We must focus on these issues for a start. Management at the general hospital has advised that it does not require transitional care beds at Our Lady's Hospital, Cashel.

As the Senator is aware, a wide range of HSE services is currently provided across the campus at Our Lady's Hospital. These include the minor injury unit, primary care services, leg ulcer wound clinic, radiology and ultrasound. Additional services provided on the hospital campus are services for older people, disability and intellectual disability services and mental health services.A proposal to reorganise the provision of services from St. Patrick's Hospital, also in Cashel, to Our Lady's Hospital was included in the HSE 2013 service plan in order to address the environmental and infrastructural issues at St. Patrick's Hospital. A unit on the Our Lady's Hospital campus has been upgraded to meet national standards and it is the HSE's intention to transfer residents from St. Patrick's Hospital to the new St. Clare's ward. This will accommodate 11 elderly mentally infirm residents.

The HSE's six-year capital plan for the period 2016 to 2021 includes plans to replace the current St. Patrick's Hospital with a new 100-bed community nursing unit. It is envisaged at this time that Our Lady's Hospital will be utilised to provide interim accommodation pending the construction of the replacement for St. Patrick's Hospital. It is important that we recognise that overcrowding is not just a problem for emergency departments alone to solve. The response has to be multifaceted and health system-wide. For that reason, A Programme for a Partnership Government has prioritised a number of initiatives which will reduce the numbers of patient attendances at emergency departments by developing alternative services, including primary care; increasing hospital capacity; supporting timely patient discharge from hospital; and improving the ability of the health system to respond to surges in demand for emergency care.

The Minister, Deputy Simon Harris, recently announced funding of €40 million for a new winter initiative, to plan for the next two winters. This is a key provision in any health strategy. The initiative will seek to support actions to improve patient flow through hospitals and optimum discharge planning. South Tipperary General Hospital will be considered in the context of the winter initiative. It will also be included in the national bed capacity review which was committed to in A Programme for a Partnership Government.

With respect to the Senator's frustration at the fact that the provision of 65 beds was mentioned in 1996, I will raise that matter also with the senior Minister. The current position is unacceptable. The Senator said the matter had been mentioned again in January 2015. He also highlighted the fact that €23 million had already been spent. I will convey his strong message on the issues raised to the Minister.