Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 176: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the average number of patients on hospital trolleys on a daily basis over the past 12 months as determined by her Department or the Health Service Executive; the numbers as determined by the Irish Medical Organisation; the reason for the disparity; her plans to deal with the issue by way of extra beds or otherwise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15701/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Information on daily activity levels in accident and emergency departments since April 2005 is available on the HSE website at www.hse.ie. In relation to the data collected other than by the HSE, I presume the Deputy is referring to the accident and emergency data collected by the Irish Nurses Organisation.

My Department is advised by the HSE that the reason for the discrepancy between the INO figures and the HSE figures is that the figures are compiled at different times of the day. The INO figures are collected at 8 a.m. each day while the HSE figures are collected at 2 p.m. I am of the opinion that media debates about the differences in numbers between the trolley count taken by the HSE and that taken by the INO add no value. Accordingly, the HSE has agreed that its trolley count will in future be undertaken at the same time as the INO count as well as at the normal time of 2 p.m.

Tackling the current difficulties with accident and emergency is the Government's top priority in health. The service being 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 and do not require admission.

The HSE is continuing to implement the ten point action plan. In addition, it has been agreed with the HSE that a number of additional measures will be implemented by the executive. These include in particular the setting of performance targets for individual hospitals.

The HSE has established a dedicated task force to oversee the implementation of the framework for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of services in our accident and emergency departments. The task force will support individual hospitals in identifying specific problems and addressing them. It will work 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 both 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.