Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 148: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the policy initiatives taken by her for implementation by the Health Service Executive to ease the situation in accident and emergency departments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27506/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The measures identified in the ten point plan to improve the delivery of accident and emergency services take a wide ranging approach and are aimed at improving access to accident and emergency services, improving patient flows through accident and emergency departments, freeing up of acute beds and providing appropriate longer term care for patients outside of the acute hospital setting.

The Health Service Executive is working with hospitals in order to deliver these measures and to ensure that the investment produces sustainable solutions. There are also additional actions that are required which relate to processes and procedures affecting the throughput of patients in hospitals. These too will be addressed by the HSE.

My Department has asked the parliamentary affairs division of the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy in relation to the progress made to date in implementing these measures.