Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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164. To ask the Minister for Health if he shares the widespread concern that a person (details supplied) was recently left on a trolley for 24 hours in Tallaght hospital in Dublin 24; if he has discussed with Tallaght hospital the actions to be taken to prevent this from ever happening again; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22803/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The HSE has advised that Tallaght Hospital apologised for the delay that occurred in allocating an in-patient bed to an elderly patient last week. The hospital fully accepts that no patient should experience such a delay in waiting for a bed and that priority should be given to elderly patients in allocation of beds. I understand that management met with the family of the patient on Friday afternoon to convey its apologies to them directly.

The HSE has advised that efforts are constantly in train to improve patient flow processes from the Emergency Department at Tallaght through to the medical wards including several initiatives under the Irish Hospital Redesign Programme and more use of step-down beds in the community. Tallaght Hospital recently confirmed a reconfiguration of services which will lead to the setting up of a new Frail Elderly Unit with increased bed capacity and enhanced clinical procedures, all of which are aimed at enabling speedier access for older patients to in-patient beds, diagnostics and treatment.

A review of the particular circumstance that gave rise to the unacceptable delays in this case is in process and appropriate measures are being put in place to mitigate the risk of recurrence. As this is a service matter, 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.