Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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51. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to allocate funding towards improvement and extension works at the emergency department at Cavan General Hospital in view of increased attendances over the past number of years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20201/17]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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224. To ask the Minister for Health if funding will be provided in 2017 towards the upgrading and extension of the emergency department at Cavan General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20200/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 51 and 224 together.

In September the HSE launched its Winter Initiative Plan which provided €40 million of additional funding for winter preparedness. The Initiative concluded at the end of March.

A range of practical measures to address ED overcrowding were implemented, including 90 additional beds, aids and appliances for over 4,450 patients, around 1,000 extra homecare packages and 615 additional transitional care bed approvals.

During the Winter Initiative delayed discharges reduced from 638 in September 2016 to 434 in December and were maintained below 500 from mid-December through to end February. This had a positive impact on trolley numbers and freed-up beds for use by patients awaiting admission. Further, since the start of 2017 there have been approximately 5% less patients waiting on trolleys nationally compared to the same period last year.

Cavan ED performed well this winter and HSE data indicate that there has been an 85% decrease in the number of patients waiting on trolleys so far this year compared to the same period last year. This has been achieved through improved performance by the Hospital and a 3% decrease in attendances.

The RCSI Hospital Group has identified the need for development of the resuscitation area in Cavan Emergency Department. Any future investment in the Hospital must be considered within the overall acute hospital infrastructure programme, the prioritised needs of the Hospital Group and within the overall capital envelope available to the health service.

During 2017 my Department will work with the HSE and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to conduct a mid-term review of the capital programme.