Written answers

Tuesday, 10 November 2015

Department of Health

Accident and Emergency Department Waiting Times

Photo of Niall CollinsNiall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

431. To ask the Minister for Health the action being taken to restore public confidence in Tallaght hospital in Dublin 24 following a recent incident (details supplied); to implement all the recommendations of the Health Information and Quality Authority's report on he hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39406/15]

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

I am aware of the difficulties that overcrowding in EDs cause for patients, their families and the staff who are doing their utmost to provide safe, quality care in very challenging circumstances. That is why improving waiting times and reducing overcrowding in Emergency Departments is a key priority for Government.

To this end, I convened the ED Taskforce last year and the publication, in April 2015 of the ED Taskforce action plan, contains a range of time defined actions to (i) optimise existing hospital and community capacity; (ii) develop internal capability and process improvement and (iii) improve leadership, governance, planning and oversight. Government has also allocated more than €117m towards the alleviation of overcrowding in EDs.

Reducing long waiting times on trolleys needs a combination of immediate measures to target the pressure areas, and also long-term sustainable solutions. A wide-ranging set of actions is also being put in place by the HSE to achieve improvements in the delivery of care in Emergency Departments. The overall approach to implementing the 2012 HIQA Tallaght report recommendations has been to utilise and harness existing change management and care transformation programmes already in development and undergoing implementation within the HSE and more broadly within the health sector. These include the HSE Clinical Programmes, initiatives aimed increasing patient safety and the work underway on implementing the National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare.

In relation to the specific matters relating to Tallaght Hospital, 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.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.