Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

359. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the overcrowding situation at a hospital (details supplied) in County Kildare; his views on concerns at the number of patients on trolleys at this hospital; the steps he and the Health Service Executive will take to address the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43850/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

While Naas General Hospital experiences overcrowding in the Emergency Department from time to time, I am assured by the HSE that every effort is made to admit patients to in-patient beds based on clinical need as soon as possible. Compared to the baseline year of 2011, there has been 1,717 fewer patients on trolleys at Naas year to date in 2014.

The hospital has appropriate escalation policies in place and monitors its activity continuously. The hospital currently has 30 additional beds open,which have remained open all year, and has additional beds open in the Acute Medical Assessment Unit and Day Ward to meet demand from the Emergency Department. The hospital has also appointed 26 staff nurses this year, 14 of which were replacement posts and 12 new posts. The HSE National Recruitment Service is currently in the process of appointing a further eight nursing posts of which six are replacement posts and two are new.

The hospital will continue to engage with the National Acute Services Division and the Social Care Division within the HSE to take advantage of additional capacity initiatives to relieve pressure on the hospital throughout the winter season.