Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 139: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if, with regard to the hardship, stress and suffering caused to patients arising from the practice of the use of hospital trolleys due to a lack a sufficient bed space, she has taken steps to ensure the availability of adequate beds throughout the winter months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35424/06]

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

Question 178: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the average time spent by a patient in the accident and emergency department of Dublin hospitals; the way these times will be improved; her Department's policy on waiting times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35367/06]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 194: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if, as a result of actions taken by her Department and the Health Service Executive, an improvement in accident and emergency services will be seen in winter 2007. [35462/06]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 139, 178 and 194 together.

Tackling the problems in 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.

A & E services are improving around the country. The Health Service 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. The long-term objective is to ensure that no patient waits longer than six hours to be admitted after the clinical decision to admit has been made.

I understand that the HSE intends to begin collecting data on the turnaround time for those who are treated in A & E departments without recourse to an acute hospital bed. In the meantime, the Executive will carry out occasional surveys to give an indication of the length of time such patients wait in A & E.

In order to ensure that the improvements that have been achieved in recent months 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.

I believe that the actions and initiatives being taken by the HSE will result in the sustained improvements in A & E services that patients and their families deserve.