Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 102: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the difference between a patient waiting in accident and emergency for an acute hospital bed and a patient waiting in an admission lounge for an acute hospital bed. [35530/06]

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 131: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the number of accident and emergency admission lounges which have been opened and the number of beds they contain. [35472/06]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 102 and 131 together.

The Health Service Executive activity reports over recent months indicate a significant reduction in the average number of patients in A & E Departments awaiting admission. Waiting times for patients have also been reduced. The percentage of people waiting longer than 24 hours for admission has decreased from 13% in May to 7% in September.

In addition, admissions lounges have been developed at St James's Hospital (15 beds), Connolly Memorial Hospital (8 beds), St Vincent's Hospital (6 beds), Cork University Hospital (10 beds) and the Mercy Hospital in Cork (4 beds).

These admissions lounges enable patients awaiting admission to an acute hospital bed to be managed safely while preserving their right to dignity and privacy.

The performance targets in relation to the time that patients spend awaiting admission apply equally to those patients who are waiting in admission lounges and those who are waiting in the emergency department.

Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 103: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the main points of her winter initiative to deal with accident and emergency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35473/06]

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

Improving the patient's progress through A&E Departments is the key area of focus for the Health Service Executive (HSE) in 2006/07. Measurable improvements have been achieved in recent months. In order to ensure that these improvements can be sustained, particularly during the winter months, the HSE has introduced a broad-based Winter Initiative.

The Winter Initiative will be similar to those in place in other health systems internationally. Its purpose is to ensure that the services required to address the particular demands of the winter season are in place and operating optimally. It will encompass not just hospital services but also primary and community care services.

The Initiative will build on work already underway and focus on a range of measures including:

preventative measures;

public communications;

operational readiness (capacity, staffing, etc);

out of hours arrangements;

NHO/PCCC service integration (Ambulance/Primary Care/A&E links, Discharge Initiatives, Continuing Care and Home Supports);

planned escalation procedures to enable responsiveness to increased demand beyond normal operating levels; and

ongoing development of necessary infrastructure particularly for continuing care.

A formal structure is now in place, with eight Local Implementation Teams covering the whole country. A comprehensive work programme has been presented to each team for implementation. The teams will be responsible for ensuring that the Initiative's priorities are implemented at local level, as well as devising and implementing local solutions to address specific local winter demands.