Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive audit on James Connolly Memorial Hospital, Dublin 15, will be published to allow for the public, elected representatives and other interested parties to analyse the findings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1519/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The priority set out in the Programme for Government is to unblock access and to improve the flow of patients through the health system. I established a Special Delivery Unit (SDU) in June 2011 as a key part of plans to radically reform the health system in Ireland. The SDU priorities encompass waiting times for unscheduled and scheduled care and the introduction of a major upgrade in the performance capabilities of the Irish health system. The SDU is focusing initially on emergency departments and is working to support hospitals in addressing excessive waiting times for admission to hospital. The SDU is working closely with key teams in the HSE and the NTPF, building on initiatives already underway including the clinical programmes and supporting hospitals to improve performance.

The Deputy is referring to an operational management report that was produced following a site visit carried out by the SDU in relation to patient care issues at Connolly hospital in Blanchardstown. The report, which was sent to the hospital management, was carried out in June last year and is now over 6 months old. The report was produced for the hospital to support management in service improvement, it is not intended to publish the report.

Since the report was received by senior management at Connolly hospital an intensive programme of work has begun between the SDU's liaison officers, the Clinical Programmes and the hospital teams. Regular liaison meetings are continuing and part of the agenda is to monitor improvements and implementation of the recommendations from the report. The SDU is satisfied that there is increased engagement at all levels in the hospital in ensuring that emergency patients are seen in a timely manner, focussing on working to achieve the national targets for unscheduled care. The hospital have implemented a number of improvements which include extended opening hours of the Acute Medicine Unit, increased availability of senior decision makers and extended availability of diagnostics. Between May and November 2012 there has been a 12% improvement in the number of new patients who are admitted to a ward or discharged from the emergency department within 6 hours of arrival.