Noel Rock (Dublin North West, Fine Gael)
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934. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to address the record number of persons left on trolleys in view of the fact that the €40 million winter initiative was not effective in addressing the issue; if one of the central focuses of his plan will be acquiring additional nursing staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19690/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Since the start of 2017 there have been approximately 5% less patients waiting on trolleys nationally compared to the same period last year.

As the Deputy will be aware, in September the HSE launched its ‘Winter Initiative Plan 2016-2017’ which provided €40 million of additional funding for winter preparedness. This Initiative was developed to manage the expected winter surge in demand for hospital care in an integrated way across Primary, Acute and Social Care.

A significant focus of the Winter Initiative was on reducing delayed discharges in acute hospitals through the funding and provision of additional homecare packages, home help hours and transitional care beds. Delayed discharges reduced from 638 in September 2016 to a low of 434 at the end of December and were maintained below 500 from mid-December through to end February. This had a positive impact on ED overcrowding and trolley numbers, in freeing up beds for use by patients awaiting admission to hospital.

My Department and the HSE fully recognise the importance of recruiting and retaining nurses within the public health system to deliver services. There is now a commitment to increase the nursing and midwifery workforce in 2017 with 1,208 additional permanent posts, along with 130 additional undergraduate places available in 2017. There will also be the offer of full-time contracts to all graduating nurses. Furthermore, commitments have also been made in relation to the provision of maternity leave cover and a career break scheme, along with improved educational opportunities and career pathways.

I can assure the Deputy that there continues to be a very strong focus on reducing ED overcrowding. My Department and the HSE are currently engaged in a process to commence winter planning for next year and to achieve an improvement trajectory in ED performance.