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

I thank Senator Ó Ríordáin for raising this important issue. It is appropriate because I have just come from a meeting in Hawkins House. I will deal with the response to the Beaumont Hospital issue later in my contribution.

The year 2016 has been an exceptionally busy year in our acute hospitals. The increase in hospital activity can be seen across the board, particularly in our emergency departments.To date this year, the Health Service Executive, HSE, has reported an average increase of approximately 5% in patient attendance at our accident and emergency departments. This increased demand is being driven in part by demographics and an ageing population profile. In this context, it is worth noting that the 2016 census identified 8% growth since 2011 in the population of Fingal, which is predominantly served by Beaumont Hospital. Being cognisant of the current demands on the Beaumont accident and emergency department and projected population growth in that area, the development of a new accident and emergency department at Beaumont has been identified as a commitment of the Programme for a Partnership Government.

It is noteworthy that the Programme for a Partnership Government also commits to proceeding to the design and planning stage for a dedicated cystic fibrosis unit at Beaumont Hospital for inclusion in the 2017 capital plan review. The HSE cystic fibrosis clinical programme is currently developing a cystic fibrosis model of care that will be important in ensuring that the unit proposed for Beaumont Hospital will meet the needs of patients and the health service. It is my understanding that both of these projects are also a priority for Beaumont Hospital and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland hospital group, of which it is a part. As such, Beaumont Hospital is currently in the process of finalising business cases for these new developments. The business cases will then be reviewed by the HSE's capital and property steering group, which approves projects for inclusion in its multi-annual capital plans in line with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines. As part of this process, funding provision will be made available for the planning and design phases of these proposed new developments in preparation for the capital plan review in 2017.

I would also like to mention that as part of the recently published winter initiative for 2016 to 2017, Beaumont Hospital will be provided with the resources to open ten additional beds to increase capacity in order to support its accident and emergency department during the crucial winter period to meet the expected surge in volume. Furthermore, under this initiative, funding has also been provided to expand community intervention teams, additional home care packages and transitional care beds in north Dublin that will support Beaumont through the winter months. This measure is part of a much larger package of €40 million of additional funding to the HSE aimed at managing winter pressures on our health system by striking a balance between hospital avoidance measures, supporting patient flow through acute hospitals and increasing the availability of social care services.

I assure the Senator that Beaumont Hospital is very important. I accept the point that we need capital investment in our accident and emergency services and there is an issue with the ageing population in our local communities. The physical environment of the accident and emergency department is not up to standard and that is something that will be pushed along over the next couple of weeks as well.