Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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171. To ask the Minister for Health the further actions that have been taken by the Health Service Executive to reduce the number of patients on trollies in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda in County Louth; if he is aware of the significant concerns locally for patients and for staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40951/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Based on the Emergency Department Taskforce’s Action Plan, additional funding of €74 million was provided to the HSE in April 2015 to increase the number of long term nursing home care places and reduce the waiting time for the funding of such places, as well as providing additional transitional care beds and home care packages to provide viable supports for those no longer needing acute hospital care. This additional funding came on top of measures already taken in Budget 2015, when the Government provided €25 million to support services that provide alternatives to, and relieve pressure on, acute hospitals.

Implementation of the priority Task Force Report actions is continuing; the aim to establish, as standard, full year-round anticipatory demand and capacity planning, underpinned by efficient internal hospital processes and supported by integrated working between hospitals, social and primary care services. Significant progress has been made to date nationally as shown by the reduction in the average number of patients waiting over 9 hours on trolleys for admission, down from 156 in Q.1 2015, to 113 Q.4 to date.

In relation to Drogheda, a new modular build has been provided as part of the Winter Capacity Initiative consisting of an eight bay Clinical Decision Unit, a four bay Surgical Assessment Unit and 12 in-patient beds. The eight bay Clinical Decision Unit and four bay Surgical Assessment Unit are already yielding benefits for both patient care and working conditions for staff. The 12 in-patient beds which are to open shortly will further help to take pressure off the Emergency Department by allowing for patient streaming, observation and treatment in a designated space other than the ED Department and improve quality of care for patient.

As the trolley issues in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda referred to are 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.