Written answers

Thursday, 6 July 2006

Department of Health and Children

Accident and Emergency Services

6:00 pm

Photo of Olwyn EnrightOlwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 225: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the plans she has to tackle the A & E crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28096/06]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Tackling the problems that exist in some of the country's A & E departments is the Government's top priority in health. 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 A & E and do not require admission.

The Health Service Executive has put in place a number of measures to build on the actions contained in the A & E Action Plan. These include in particular the setting of performance targets for individual hospitals. Over the last three months there has been a consistent improvement in the numbers of patients on trolleys in A & E awaiting admission, when compared to the same period in 2005. In June, for example, there were on average 39% fewer patients on trolleys awaiting admission than in June 2005.

The numbers of patients who are waiting longer than 24 hours for admission have also decreased. The HSE is continuing to focus on the interim target that no patient will wait longer than 24 hours, with the ultimate target being to ensure that no patient waits any longer than six hours for admission.

The hospitals are being assisted in achieving their targets by the A & E Task Force which was established by the HSE. The Task Force has focused on those hospitals that have persistent challenges in relation to the delivery of A & E services and has undertaken site visits to those hospitals to identify initiatives that will have a high impact on A & E performance.

One of the first initiatives to be progressed has been the fast-tracking of admissions beds and other facilities to improve the patient experience by ensuring that patient privacy, dignity and comfort is preserved as far as possible while awaiting admission to an acute bed.

Tackling the issue of care for older people is an important and integral part of the A & E strategy. We have provided additional intermediate care beds and home care packages to facilitate the discharge in 2006 to date of more than 700 patients who have completed the acute phase of their care. Some 400 additional private nursing home beds have been provided for those who require long-term care.

Given the emerging capacity challenges in the private nursing home sector, and having regard to the specific needs of high acuity patients, the HSE is currently examining the possibility of providing a significant number of additional long-term care beds, both in Dublin and elsewhere, at a number of health service locations. All available mechanisms will be used to accelerate the process to allow for the earliest possible introduction of these additional facilities. The initiative is being overseen by a HSE dedicated project team.

I want to reiterate the Government's commitment to improving the delivery of A & E services. By adopting a system-wide approach I am confident that the services will continue to be improved, and that those improvements will be sustained.

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