Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for the fact that the Minister for Health cannot be here to take this Commencement matter and I am have been asked to take it on his behalf.

I thank Senator Colm Burke for tabling this Commencement matter. Trolley numbers nationally were high in November and have been so far in December due to increased emergency department attendances, greater incidence of infection in several hospitals and a high rate of elective activity in hospitals to address waiting lists. Similar to many other hospitals, Mercy University Hospital has experienced an increase in emergency department presentations since January when compared to the same period last year. According to the September HSE management data report, an additional 1,653 people have presented at Mercy University Hospital's emergency department, which represents a 4.6% increase. This is in line with the national experience.

The HSE has advised that approval has been received from the consultant applications advisory committee in respect of a consultant in emergency medicine for Cork University Hospital. This post is being progressed by the hospital through the Public Appointments Service. I am also advised that two further consultant posts in emergency medicine have been referred to the consultant applications advisory committee for consideration.