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

Question 132: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the purpose of accommodating patients on trolleys in corridors, lobbies and alcoves while wards and beds are vacant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1988/11]

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

Question 133: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the steps she has taken to ensure that hospital wards and beds decommissioned for any reason are brought back into service to address the hardship and suffering caused to patients who have been consigned to trolleys in corridors and lobbies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1989/11]

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

Question 134: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason adequate ward accommodation was not made to ensure that patients seeking access to hospitals during the months of December 2010 and January 2011 were not consigned to trolleys, having particular regard to the experience of previous years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1990/11]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 132 to 134, inclusive, together.

The waiting times for patients attending emergency departments in many hospitals during the first week of January were unacceptable and I very much regret the delays that patients experienced.

I met with the HSE this week to discuss the situation and to review its plans for ensuring that this situation does not recur. The HSE has assured me that it will take all possible steps to improve waiting times in emergency departments, so that all patients are assessed, treated and discharged or admitted without unnecessary delay.

The HSE has taken specific steps to cope with the increase in activity that is normally experienced at this time of year. These include curtailing elective surgery and opening beds which are normally closed for seasonal reasons. Other actions taken by hospitals include increasing the number of ward rounds to ensure that any patients who are ready to go home are discharged, with support as necessary from community-based services.

Hospitals are also ensuring that discharges are carried out early in the morning and over the weekend to make beds available for patients being admitted through their emergency departments. In addition, the HSE is working to have senior clinical decision makers and diagnostic services speedily available for emergency department needs. The HSE has also provided for increased GP out-of-hours services through the expansion of the GP co-ops.

The key to addressing the difficulties in emergency departments is to deal with the issue across the entire hospital. I have asked the HSE to ensure that minimising waiting times for patient in emergency departments, and the use of trolleys, is accorded top priority.