Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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176. To ask the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to alleviate the problem of overcrowding at various general hospitals throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3019/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Emergency Department overcrowding is a priority issue for me and for the Government and I 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.

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. These plans include the opening of additional overflow areas, reopening of closed beds, provision of additional diagnostic scans and Consultants doing additional ward rounds to improve the appropriate flow of patients through hospitals. The Government has provided additional funding of €3 million in 2014 and €25 million in 2015 to address delayed discharges and actions being taken include the provision of additional home care packages, additional transition beds in nursing homes, 300 additional Fair Deal places and an extension in Community Intervention Teams.

I convened the Emergency Department Taskforce last month to find long term solutions to overcrowding by providing additional focus and momentum in dealing with the challenges presented by the current trolley waits. Following a second meeting last week, the HSE is working on an action plan to be finalised by the end of the month to specifically address ED issues with a view to a significant reduction in trolley waits over the course of 2015.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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177. To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which spare wards or beds capacity exists at any of the general hospitals that experience overcrowding at accident and emergency departments in the past number of weeks; the steps being taken to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3020/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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In relation to the specific queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. 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.