Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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53. To ask the Minister for Health the reason for the 139% increase in the numbers on trolleys in Sligo University Hospital between 2013 and 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4673/17]

Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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63. To ask the Minister for Health the reason for the 308% increase in the numbers on trolleys in the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise, between 2013 and 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4669/17]

John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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67. To ask the Minister for Health the reason for the 138% increase in the numbers on trolleys in Kerry General Hospital between 2013 and 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4670/17]

Barry Cowen (Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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68. To ask the Minister for Health the reason for the 310.7% increase in the numbers on trolleys in the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore, between 2013 and 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4667/17]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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72. To ask the Minister for Health the reason for the increase in the numbers of patients on trolleys in Cork city hospitals in 2016. [4657/17]

Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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90. To ask the Minister for Health the reason for the 95.7% increase in the numbers on trolleys in Mayo University Hospital between 2013 and 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4665/17]

Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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106. To ask the Minister for Health the special steps or initiatives taken during the period November 2016 to date in 2017 in response to the deteriorating overcrowding situation; the status of these initiatives or steps that were announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4565/17]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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129. To ask the Minister for Health the reason for the 57% increase in the numbers on trolleys in Waterford hospital in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4659/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 53, 63, 67, 68, 72, 90, 106 and 129 together.

Recent data from the HSE indicates that in 2016 there was a circa 5% increase in Emergency Department attendances nationally. In addition, early January 2017 saw continued significant pressure on our EDs due to high demand, increased incidence of flu mainly affecting older people, as well as on-going bed capacity constraints due to staff shortages.

In September 2016, the HSE launched the ‘Winter Initiative Plan 2016-2017’ which provided €40 million of additional funding for winter preparedness and to assist hospitals to deal with increased demand. In January 2017, in response to significant pressures in our EDs in the early New Year, a series of enhanced measures were added to this Initiative.

So far, the Initiative has delivered 75 newly-opened additional beds. Also, as of 24 January, delayed discharges have reduced nationally to 469, freeing up hospitals beds to alleviate ED pressures. In addition under the Initiative, since October: over 3,900 patients have availed of aids and appliances; over 780 additional homecare packages and 410 additional transitional care beds have been provided, enabling patients to be discharged from hospital sooner. Along with my Department, every week, I meet with senior officials from the HSE, including the Director General, to monitor progress on the Winter Initiative and ED Performance.

In relation to the specific sites identified in this composite PQ response, I can confirm that both Cork University Hospital and the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore have been identified as focus sites under the Winter Initiative experiencing the greatest challenges in terms of ED pressures, and consequently needing specific support measures in order to be able to respond more effectively to expected surges in demand for emergency care over the busy winter period. Under the Initiative, 18 new step-down beds have opened in the Mercy University Hospital Cork, and the Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore will also receive 12 new acute beds, which are expected to open by mid-February.

While all hospitals have experienced ED pressures this winter and increased demand for ED services, Sligo University Hospital, Kerry General Hospital and Mayo University Hospital have been performing better than the national average in terms of patient experience times and trolley numbers. Under the current HSE Service Plan 2017, additional funding is provided to facilitate the opening of the new medical assessment unit at the the Midlands Regional Hospital in Portlaoise. The performance of all of these hospitals is monitored on a daily basis by the HSE’s Special Delivery Unit and support is given as needed to facilitate alleviating ED pressures.