Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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37. To ask the Minister for Health the action that will be taken to address the crisis situation at Tallaght hospital as highlighted by the INMO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6920/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Health, the HSE SDU and the INMO are at one in regarding trolley waits to be an unacceptable feature of the Irish healthcare system which must be addressed. However, year to date, on a national basis we are 2.9% ahead of 2013 and 33.7% ahead of the baseline trolley count. These percentages are equivalent to 237 and 4,015 fewer patients on trolleys respectively.

There is intensive engagement between the SDU, hospitals, community services and regional management to address peak pressure in Emergency Departments where it arises, through a range of different measures. Tallaght Hospital has recently experienced a surge in activity, with a 5% increase in ED attendances and a 13% increase in admissions. The hospital has taken appropriate action to manage the situation and the CEO has provided assurance that the hospital is providing adequate patient care.

I am aware that the question of staffing had been raised and I am advised in this regard that Tallaght had 938 nurses in January 2014, more than at the same time the previous year, is actively recruiting and is using agency staffing where that is needed to address vacancies.As with all hospitals experiencing pressure in the early weeks of 2014, Tallaght Hospital is making ongoing process improvements in its Emergency Department, in collaboration with the HSE SDU. These measures have led to significant improvements in the patient experience times in Emergency Departments.