Joe Carey (Clare, 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, Ennis, County Clare, and the impact of these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7560/13]

Damien English (Meath West, 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 Connolly Hospital, Dublin; the impact of these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7568/13]

Paul Connaughton (Galway East, 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 University College Hospital Galway, County Galway, and the impact of these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7555/13]

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, 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 Letterkenny Hospital, County Donegal; the impact of these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7566/13]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, 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 Tallaght Hospital, Dublin; the impact of these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7549/13]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, 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 St. Colmcille's Hospital, Loughlinstown, Dublin; the impact of these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7569/13]

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, 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 Beaumont Hospital, Dublin; the impact of these measures [7562/13]

John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, 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 St Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny and the impact of these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7556/13]

Dara Murphy (Cork North Central, 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 Cork University Hospital, County Cork, and the impact of these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7554/13]

Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, 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 Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, County Louth; the impact of these measures [7565/13]

Damien English (Meath West, 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 Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan, County Meath, and the impact of these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7552/13]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, 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 Cavan General Hospital, County Cavan, and the impact of these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7553/13]

Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Health he actions taken to tackle overcrowding and the use of trolleys in the accident and emergency department in Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore, County Offaly and the impact of these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7557/13]

Paul Connaughton (Galway East, 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 Portiuncula Hospital, County Galway; the impact of these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7563/13]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, 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 St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, and the impact of these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7558/13]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, 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 Kerry General Hospital; the impact of these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7564/13]

Liam Twomey (Wexford, 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 emergency department in Wexford General Hospital; the impact of these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7547/13]

Nicky McFadden (Longford-Westmeath, 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 Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar, County Westmeath, and the impact of these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7559/13]

Anthony Lawlor (Kildare North, 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 Naas General Hospital, County Kildare; the impact of these measures [7550/13]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, 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 Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise, County Laois; the impact of these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7548/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 30, 40, 44 to 47, inclusive, 58, 66, 70, 75, 77, 86, 89, 93, 94, 96, 99, 104 and 112 together.

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%.

Since before Christmas hospitals have seen a significant increase in the number of very sick patients needing admission. The increase in norovirus in hospitals has been well publicised; we are also seeing high levels of admissions of frail elderly people, patients presenting with respiratory illness and of patients presenting with fractures.

However, evidence from the last year, and particularly over the last ten months, has proved that the health system has the capacity to respond to these challenges more quickly and is better at managing increased demand.

The situation is being actively managed at a national level with an intensive work programme having begun between the SDU’s liaison officers, the Clinical Programmes and the hospital teams. The SDU is satisfied that hospitals are engaged in ensuring that emergency patients are seen in a timely manner, focussing on working to achieve the national targets for unscheduled care.

I will have the information requested on each hospital sent out to the Deputies as soon as possible.