Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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Question 22: To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that 35 patients were on trolleys in Wexford General Hospital in early September with staff instructed to call them virtual words; if he will release funding to re-open at least one ward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26372/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The HSE has confirmed that the trolley waits in Wexford General Hospital were in breach of target waiting times during the summer months. This was because of a number of factors, including increased activity and a number of delayed discharges.

Wexford General Hospital has undertaken a comprehensive audit of the emergency department (ED) and has identified a number of actions which will improve the efficiency of the ED. In addition to this, in line with the Acute Medicine Programme, an additional consultant general physician has been approved for appointment. This appointment will enable the development of an Acute Medical Unit in Wexford, which will improve access and streaming of patients through the hospital and alleviate the current pressures on the ED.

In recent months I have established the Special Delivery Unit (SDU), under the leadership of Dr Martin Connor. The SDU is working to unblock access to acute services by dramatically improving the flow of patients through the system.

I am satisfied that Wexford General is fully engaging with the priorities identified by the SDU, which will help incidences such as the one described in the Deputy's question become a thing of the past.