Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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367. To ask the Minister for Health the measures which are being taken to address the increasing trolley crisis in St. Luke's Hospital, County Kilkenny. [29704/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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St. Luke’s Hospital Kilkenny has seen a 5% increase in ED attendances this May, as compared to May 2016. In addition, a CRE outbreak is currently impacting 18 beds at this site.

The Special Delivery Unit (SDU) of the HSE continues to provide support to all hospitals including St. Luke’s Hospital Kilkenny to alleviate pressure on EDs. For example in June 2017, 12 new in-patients beds were opened at this hospital. St. Luke’s Hospital Kilkenny was also selected under the Winter Initiative 2016-2017 as a pilot site to develop an integrated case management approach between acute hospitals and the community organisations to the provision of healthcare services to our Frail and Elderly population. This pilot is part of a wider HSE Integrated Care Programme for Older People (ICPOP) and work is on-going.

The 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.