James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason patients are spending unacceptable amounts of time on trolleys in accident and emergency in view of the implementation of her accident and emergency ten-point plan combined with her description of the accident and emergency situation as a national emergency in March 2006, the subsequent establishment of the accident and emergency task force and the publication of the ED task force report and the setting of target waiting times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16778/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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184,159 people attended at 34A&E departments in January and February this year. Of these, about 61,000, or one-third, were admitted as in-patients. The vast majority of these patients were admitted without delay. The HSE reports daily on the numbers of the remaining patients at 2 p.m. who are not admitted immediately. They break this down in waiting times between 0-6 hours, 6-12 hours, 12-24 hours and over 24 hours.

The number of patients waiting in each category as a proportion of the total who are not admitted immediately can be calculated daily by anyone who accesses the HSE website. The number of patients waiting in each category as a proportion of total admissions is not immediately apparent from the published figures, since the majority who are admitted immediately are not reported daily.

The HSE is also committed to monitoring and reporting on the total length of time patients spend in Emergency Departments, whether they are admitted or not. A number of hospitals have commenced reporting this information and the HSE expects to be in a position to publish data on up to 18 hospitals in the next few months.

Significant additional resources have been provided to address problems arising in Emergency Departments. These include additional long stay beds, and a range of community based measures aimed at reducing the need to use acute hospital services. A draft national code of practice for integrated discharge planning is at the final stage of development and is due to be completed next month.

I am committed to continuing to focussing on alleviating pressures on Emergency Departments, reducing waiting times, freeing up capacity and allowing for more timely admission and discharges.