Written answers

Thursday, 9 July 2009

Department of Health and Children

Accident and Emergency Services

12:00 pm

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 382: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress made on the programme for Government commitment to further increase the number of accident and emergency consultants available round the clock in accident and emergency departments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30019/09]

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 383: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress made on the programme for Government commitment to further develop chest pain and respiratory clinics to ease pressure on accident and emergency departments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30020/09]

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 384: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress made on the programme for Government commitment to establish a national network of local injury clinics; the number and location of those that are operational; the number and location of those that are in planning stage; the cost of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30021/09]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 382 to 384, inclusive, together

Improving the delivery of Accident and Emergency services continues to be a high priority for this Government. The Programme for Government contains a number of commitments designed to further improve the delivery of Accident & Emergency services including:

Further increase the number of A & E consultants available around the clock in A & E Departments,

Further develop chest pain and respiratory clinics to ease pressure on A & E,

Establish a national network of Local Injury Clinics.

There are currently 60 Emergency Medicine Consultants in post. An additional 28 Consultants in Emergency Medicine have been approved to support the delivery of A & E services since 2003. This represents an increase of 85% over the past five years in the emergency consultant numbers. The HSE has made financial provision within its 2009 Service Plan for the recruitment of additional consultants, including appointments under the 100 plus scheme.

In line with the new contractual arrangements agreed with Medical Consultants and to provide for a consultant delivered service, the number of hospital consultants will be increased but there will need to be compensatory savings by suppressing Non-Consultant Hospital Doctor posts.

In addition, the new Consultant Contract provides for greater flexibility in the rostering of Consultants in Emergency Medicine and the consequent availability of consultant-provided services in line with clinical need. The new Contract includes provision for an extended working day to 12 hours Monday to Friday (8 am to 8 pm), provision for rostering on-site at weekends and public holidays and by agreement, more flexible arrangements, including 24/7 rostering.

Chest pain assessment and respiratory services are provided at existing Emergency Departments. There are dedicated practice examples where GP referrals are assessed by cardiology services in units such as the chest pain assessment units in the Mater Hospital, Connolly Hospital, Cork University Hospital and South Infirmary. Dedicated respiratory clinics are, for example, conducted at the Mater Hospital and Connolly.

A number of the new A&E Departments have provision for minor injury clinics, including Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown, Cork University Hospital, St Vincent's Hospital, St James's Hospital and South Tipperary General Hospital. The new hospital at Tullamore now has a designated area for the treatment of minor injuries. Minor injuries services have been expanded at St. John's Limerick, and a minor injuries unit is operating at Waterford Regional Hospital.

In line with the recommendations of the Teamwork Report "Improving Safety and Achieving Better Standards", the HSE is also committed to the development of Minor Injury Units in local hospitals in the North East. The first of these units has been developed at Monaghan Hospital which opened earlier this year. Other units are to open at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan and Louth County Hospital, Dundalk.

Following on from the reconfiguration of services in the Mid-West, including A & E and surgery, local emergency care centres have been established at Nenagh and Ennis.

My Department has asked the HSE to communicate directly to the Deputy on the additional operational issues raised.

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 389: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress made on the Programme for Government commitment to implement the key recommendations of the National Cancer Strategy and prioritise development of hospice services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30026/09]

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