Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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364. To ask the Minister for Health the number of times the full capacity protocol in South Tipperary General Hospital was implemented in each of the years 2011 to 2015 and 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38718/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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.

South Tipperary General Hospital is one of nine hospitals which have been targeted in this year’s Winter Initiative. In order to alleviate ED overcrowding at the hospital, a range of specific measures have been put in place. These include the expansion of access to Community Intervention Teams services to support the hospital by facilitating hospital avoidance and timely discharge. Additional home care packages are also being provided; from 3 October to the 5 February, an additional 3 home care packages per week will be provided in the South Tipperary area. Additional access to aids and appliances to support timely discharge will also be provided. A tender process to establish a National Framework Agreement for Temporary Accommodation is currently being evaluated. Based on the outcome of this process, the HSE will consider options, to provide additional capacity at the hospital.

Last week 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.

In relation to this particular query, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.