Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 202: To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to rules prohibiting family members or close friends from accompanying relatives into accident and emergency departments; his views whether this poses a major difficulty for elderly persons; the way he proposes to resolve this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20258/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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There is no national approach to the issue to the issue of rules allowing or prohibiting family members or close friends to accompany patients into accident and emergency departments. Decisions in this regard are taken at hospital level and will depend on certain circumstances with the main aim of ensuring the safety of patients and their families.

In certain circumstances, where for example there may be an outbreak of infectious disease or an overcrowded Emergency Department, a hospital may decide to restrict access but again such decisions are taken on a case by case basis and in the best interest of the patient. In general, most Emergency Departments have procedures in place to ensure that vulnerable patients have a family member or companion with them. In the event of a major trauma or event, hospitals will seek to accommodate as many of a patient's relatives as possible.