Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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24. To ask the Minister for Health the reason for the substantial increase in emergency department overcrowding in the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise, over the past two years. [38037/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Trolley numbers nationally have been high in November due to increased ED attendances, greater incidence of infection in several hospitals and a high rate of elective activity in hospitals to address waiting lists. The HSE has confirmed that there has been a 2% increase in attendances at the ED in Portlaoise since 2015.

It is unacceptable that patients wait on trolleys for long periods especially elderly and vulnerable patients. Over the coming months it is essential that the health service plans effectively for expected surges in emergency care demand. My Department, working with the HSE, has been driving a range of measures to improve patient ED experience times.

Following the formation of Government an additional €40 million was provided to assist in the management of winter pressures. Utilising this additional funding the HSE developed the Winter Initiative Plan 2016 – 2017 which was published in September. Key aspects of this plan are being implemented at hospital and community services level across the country. Portlaoise Hospital has developed a Winter Capacity Plan to assist in managing the demand for services over the winter period. Measures include additional consultant hours assigned to the ED, appointment of a second advance nurse practitioner for ED and appointment of a bed manager. These appointments will assist in ensuring optimal use of available beds, timely patient flow and an improved patient experience for minor injuries.

Today the HSE convened a Winter Initiative Health Summit and I met with Hospital Group CEOs, as well as hospital and Community Health Organisation managers, to reinforce the importance of driving key performance improvements across primary, acute and social care to reduce ED overcrowding and to plan for expected surges in demand in our EDs in the New Year.

I can assure the Deputy that there is a very strong focus on reducing ED overcrowding in all my interactions with the HSE, hospitals and the wider health service.