Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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227. To ask the Minister for Health if he is aware of the 20% increase in the number of persons presenting at the emergency department of Mayo University Hospital in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20192/16]

Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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228. To ask the Minister for Health if he is aware that the Health Service Executive has confirmed that attendance at Mayo University Hospital emergency department is almost double what the facility was built to deal with (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20193/16]

Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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229. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to resolve the problems at Mayo University Hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20194/16]

Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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230. To ask the Minister for Health the efforts being made by the Health Service Executive to reduce the pressure at Mayo University Hospital.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20195/16]

Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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231. To ask the Minister for Health the factors the Health Service Executive management has claimed are contributing to the overcrowding at Mayo University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20196/16]

Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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233. To ask the Minister for Health his plans for both the present and future of Mayo University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20198/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 227 to 231, inclusive, and 233 together.

Pressures on EDs have been rising, as the population is both growing and ageing. ED attendances have been significantly higher this year, particularly in the peak winter period of Quarter 1. To date, the HSE has reported an average increase in ED attendances of nearly 6% compared with the same period last year.

However, overall this year so far, we have seen a decrease of just over 7% in the number of patients who have had to wait on a trolley, in comparison with the same period in 2015.

While ED attendances at Mayo University Hospital have been almost 10% higher year to date, we have seen a decrease of approximately 8% in the number of patients waiting on trolleys, in comparison with the same period in 2015.

Patient experience times at end May 2016 show that nationally 71% of patients complete their episode of care in ED within 6 hours and 85% within 9 hours of registration. In this regard Mayo University Hospital is performing better than average with 75% within 6 hours and 91% within 9 Hours.

The ED at Mayo Hospital was originally designed for 20,000 presentations per year; however, in 2015, Mayo saw 35,515 people. The Programme for a Partnership Government has committed to progress a new ED facility for University Hospital Galway, which will reduce pressure on EDs across the Saolta Group, including at Mayo University Hospital.

In January of this year the Primary Care Centre in Castlebar commenced participation in the Primary Care Ultrasound Project, which will increase access to diagnostic facilities in the Mayo region, and reduce pressure on Mayo University Hospital.

Several national initiatives such as: the ongoing work of the ED Taskforce and SDU; the 2016-2018 Winter Initiative, the national review of bed capacity; and the review of the hours of service of Medical Assessment Units, are intended to alleviate ED pressures at all hospitals, including Mayo.