Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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675. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the situation at Naas General Hospital, County Kildare, where continuing overcrowding exists at the accident and emergency department and where in recent times record numbers of patients have been treated on trolleys; if he, his Department and the Health Service Executive have identified the cause of this problem; if he will provide the details of those causes; the measures he will take to address the situation; his views that the position of the accident and emergency department of the hospital is unacceptable for patients and represents a totally unsatisfactory environment for HSE staff to work in; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1506/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Health and Health Service Executive regard trolley waits as unacceptable and acknowledge the difficulties which the current surge in ED activity is causing for patients, their families and the staff who are doing their utmost to provide safe, quality care in very challenging circumstances. It is anticipated that the figures will continue to fluctuate, but the collaborative arrangements now in place with the professional bodies and management are having an impact. All hospitals have escalation plans to manage not only patient flow but also patient safety in a responsive, controlled and planned way that supports and ensures the delivery of optimum patient care.

Triage is operated to prioritise patients so that those with most acute needs are seen and treated as soon as possible. Hospital EDs seek to manage any possible risks for patients so as to minimise any safety issues and keep risk to an absolute minimum in what are very difficult circumstances in many EDs at present. Senior clinicians are part of this system and the responsibility to minimise potential risk and ensure the safest possible care is a responsibility they deal with as part of their duties every day in hospitals.

Measures to manage ED surges involve the full health system including primary, community and continuing care services to ensure that all available capacity and options are utilised and brought to bear on the situation. HSE have advised that at present:

- Additional beds to cope with surge pressures are open

- All non-urgent elective procedures have been cancelled but urgent and cancer surgeries will continue

- Day surgery facilities are in use to provide additional capacity for overflow purposes

- Ambulance bypass cover arrangements will be invoked in exceptional circumstances and with the prior agreement of the Group CEO and participating hospitals

- The role of consultant doctors in terms of ensuring additional ward rounds and patient transfers has been emphasised with the aim of discharging patients as soon as they are fit and well enough to go home or to other care facilities.

- The use of additional capacity in non-acute hospitals, particularly to provide rehabilitation care, is being expedited where possible (e.g. St. Luke's/Cappagh/Navan)

The Government has provided additional funding of €25 million in 2015 to address delayed discharges. This funding is being targeted at hospital and community services which can demonstrate initiatives to address specific needs of delayed discharge patients most positively and therefore improve timeliness for admissions from Emergency Departments and waiting lists.

As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to the situation at Naas General Hospital. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.