Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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Question 191: To ask the Minister for Health his plans and those of the Health Service Executive to address the trolley crisis in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, County Louth, in which 52 persons were left on trolleys on 16 June 2011; his plans to ensure that this situation is prevented from occurring again; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16763/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I have stated many times that the waiting times for admission for patients attending Emergency Departments in many hospitals are unacceptable. I am determined that this situation should be addressed. In this regard the Deputy will be aware that I have recently established the Special Delivery Unit and assigned to it as a priority the task of addressing the issues arising in Emergency Departments.

The difficulties in Emergency Departments cannot be resolved solely within the EDs themselves and must be addressed on the basis of a health-system wide approach. In particular, overcrowding in the Emergency Department has a number of causes and any solution to problems that may arise from this issue must reflect this reality. Any solution must start with ensuring that patients are treated in the most appropriate way in the most appropriate location. This means that where and whenever possible patients who can be treated in the primary care setting receive that treatment in a timely manner. This will ensure that patients can be confident of receiving the necessary treatment on time and that there is less need for patients to attend at EDs.

I am confident that with careful planning, with leadership from the Special Delivery Unit, the implementation of the HSE's Emergency Medicine Programme and related clinical programmes and the roll-out of Acute Medicine Units we will be in a position to reassure patients that the challenges related to the delivery of services in Emergency Departments will be addressed.

The specific service issue raised by the Deputy has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.