Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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363. To ask the Minister for Health the immediate and urgent actions being undertaken to assist front-line staff and make the emergency department a safe and controlled environment for patients with regard to the overcrowding briefing in Tallaght Hospital emergency department on 26 October 2016 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33605/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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My Department, working with the HSE, has been driving a range of measures to alleviate overcrowding and reduce patient experience times in Emergency Departments.

Following intensive engagements under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission in January this year, HSE management and the INMO reached an agreement on a range of measures to improve emergency department working environments. The Agreement involves a tightening and earlier activation of the National Escalation Policy and prioritising staffing of emergency departments. The proposals involve the designation of all Emergency Departments as distinct workplaces under the Safety Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. Enhanced health and safety and risk management and mitigation measures are being implemented.

The Escalation Framework was issued to the acute hospitals for immediate adoption in December 2015. The intent is that both capacity and patient throughput are appropriately managed during periods of excess demand, in order to maintain a safe and controlled environment for patients.

In addition, the Winter Initiative has provided €40 million of additional funding to assist with surges in demand for unscheduled care during Winter 2015-16. The Initiative aims to strike a balance between hospital avoidance measures, supporting patient flow through acute hospitals and increasing the availability of social care services.

In terms of additional measures under the Winter Initiative targeted to specific hospitals, Tallaght Hospital has been allocated 4 extra Home Care Packages per week until the end of the year and 2 additional Transitional Care Beds per week until the end of February 2017. Funding has also been made available to allow patients on the orthopaedic and scoliosis waiting lists at Tallaght and other hospitals avail of treatment at Cappagh Hospital and other facilities.

I can assure the Deputy that there is a very strong focus on reducing Emergency Department overcrowding in all my interactions with the HSE, hospitals and other interested parties.