Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 134: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the action she proposes to take to address the situation at Cavan General Hospital due to inadequate bed numbers, resulting in a record 45 people waiting on trolleys for bed allocation on 17 November 2008, a situation set to worsen with the threatened ending of acute inpatient services in Monaghan General Hospital; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42460/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Cavan General Hospital experienced a significant rise in the level of medical attendances at the Emergency Department over the weekend commencing 14th November, with an increase of over 40% in the admission rate. This resulted in 45 patients awaiting admission by Monday 17th November. A contingency plan was activated to ensure that all patients were managed and treated.

As part of the reconfiguration of acute services across the Cavan/Monaghan Hospital Group a new Medical Assessment Unit (MAU) at Cavan is scheduled to open in December. It will be staffed by 19 people including an additional consultant physician, an additional consultant radiologist, nurses, radiography and support staff. It will open 12 hours per day 7 days per week. The MAU is expected to reduce the demand for admission by providing full assessment and initiation of treatment without the need to admit all patients. In addition, a new observation ward is due to open in December 2008, which is hoped will also reduce the need for some patients to be admitted to beds on the wards.