Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 272: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her Department's policy on the operation of the accident and emergency departments of Dublin hospitals, from a policy application point of view; what is deemed to be an unacceptable waiting period in accident and emergency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15364/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Tackling the current difficulties with accident and emergency departments is the Government's top priority in health. The service provided to some patients in accident and emergency departments is unacceptable and must be improved. Our objectives are to reduce the numbers waiting for admission, the time spent waiting for admission, and the turnaround time for those who can be treated in accident and emergency departments and do not require admission. I believe that there is a need to build on the accident and emergency action plan and arising from discussions with the Health Service Executive, a number of proposals have been agreed, including the setting of performance targets for individual hospitals.

The HSE has developed and circulated a framework for improving accident and emergency services, setting out clearly the proposed approach. The recently established dedicated task force will oversee the implementation of this framework. The task force includes accident and emergency consultants, a consultant geriatrician, a respiratory physician, a director of nursing, and a hospital chief executive, as well as full-time representatives from the national hospitals office and primary, community and continuing care services. The task force supports individual hospitals in identifying specific problems and addressing them, and working with hospitals to introduce a system of "whole hospital" performance measures to improve the patient's journey not alone through the accident and emergency department but through the hospital system from admission to discharge.

I share the view that has been expressed by the chief executive of the HSE that the achievement of improvements in accident and emergency services is dependent on fundamental changes in hospitals and in other areas of the health service. I am confident that by improving hospital processes and procedures, by providing additional step-down beds for those patients who do not require acute hospital care, and by expanding and enhancing primary and community care services we can achieve a sustained improvement in our accident and emergency services.