Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Health the actions taken to tackle overcrowding and the use of trolleys in the accident and emergency department in Sligo General Hospital; the impact of these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7567/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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In Sligo General Hospital in the first five weeks of 2013, compared to same period in 2011, there has been a 65% decrease in the number of patients waiting on trolleys at the hospital. Immediately following my appointment, I set out to address the issues which have been causing unacceptable delays in patients being treated in our hospitals. I established the Special Delivery Unit (SDU), as set out in the Programme for Government. The SDU is working to unblock access to acute services by improving the flow of patients through the system. Since its establishment there has been significant improvements in the waiting times for unscheduled care against a background of reduced funding for health, reconfiguration of services, a very challenging socio-economic climate and a growing number of older persons with an overall increase in life expectancy.

There was significant progress during the course of 2012 in reducing the number of patients waiting on trolleys. Over 2012 there were 20,352 less patients waiting on trolleys in comparison to 2011, representing an overall reduction of 23.6%.

With particular regard to Sligo General Hospital, the SDU is satisfied that the hospital is engaged in ensuring that emergency patients are seen in a timely manner, focussing on working to achieve the national targets for unscheduled care. Specific measures taken have included the opening of a 15 bedded Medical Short Stay Unit adjacent to the Emergency Department and the Acute Assessment Unit. This ward has had the impact of improving the streaming of medical patients throughout the hospital as well as a continued reduction of patients accommodated on trolleys overnight.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Health the actions taken to tackle overcrowding and the use of trolleys in the accident and emergency department in Mid Western Regional Hospital, County Limerick; the impact of these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7570/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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In the Mid Western Regional Hospital in the first five weeks of 2013, compared to same period in 2011, there has been a 9% decrease in the number of patients waiting on trolleys. Immediately following my appointment, I set out to address the issues which have been causing unacceptable delays in patients being treated in our hospitals. I established the Special Delivery Unit (SDU), as set out in the Programme for Government. The SDU is working to unblock access to acute services by improving the flow of patients through the system. Since its establishment there has been significant improvements in the waiting times for unscheduled care against a background of reduced funding for health, reconfiguration of services, a very challenging socio-economic climate and a growing number of older persons with an overall increase in life expectancy.

There was significant progress during the course of 2012 in reducing the number of patients waiting on trolleys. Over 2012 there were 20,352 less patients waiting on trolleys in comparison to 2011, representing an overall reduction of 23.6%.

With particular regard to the Mid-Western Regional Hospital, the SDU is satisfied that the hospital is engaged in ensuring that emergency patients are seen in a timely manner, focussing on working to achieve the national targets for unscheduled care. The opening of an Acute Medical Unit in the hospital as well as Medical Assessment Units at St John's and the Mid-Western Regional Hospital Nenagh have alleviated the pressures on the Emergency Department by enabling Medical Physicians to take direct referrals from GPs. Other measures planned include converting some in-patient beds to medical short stay beds. By grouping these patients together under the care of Acute Medical Physicians it is hoped to increase the number of medical discharges within 48 hours, thus freeing up capacity.