Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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228. To ask the Minister for Health the reason the medical assessment unit in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital was recently closed; the number of such closures in 2016 and to date in 2017; if there will be no further closures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23505/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Under the framework of the HSE Full Capacity Protocol, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda has in place an agreed escalation plan within which to operate during periods of ED overcrowding. It sets out a range of extraordinary special measures which can be activated throughout the escalation process as a last resort.

These measures aim to improve the flow of admitted patients through unscheduled care pathways. As part of this a Medical Assessment Unit may temporarily be used to accommodate a locally agreed number of extra patients to address the overcrowding. This is often referred to as being used for surge capacity. At these times, patients are seen in the Emergency Department rather than in the Medical Assessment Unit (MAU). While this temporary change of use may not be ideal in terms of the utilisation of these units, it does enable hospitals to alleviate overcrowding in EDs and afford patients a greater degree of dignity.

Recent data from the HSE indicates that despite an increase in over 3% in attendances for the first quarter in 2017, the situation at the Our Lady of Lourdes ED has been improving, with 42% fewer patients waiting a trolley, as compared to the same period last year. This equates to 850 fewer patients on trolleys this year so far. This ED has also seen a sustained improvement in Patient Experience Times during this period.

I have been advised that the management and use of the Medical Assessment Unit facility in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital continues to adhere to standard operating procedures as set out in the HSE Full Capacity Protocol.

In relation to increasing capacity at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, construction of a new ward block, including Clinical Decision Unit is ongoing. The ward block is expected to be completed later this year. I expect that this increased capacity will further reduce the need to initiate the Full Capacity Protocol.

In response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.