Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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1236. To ask the Minister for Health his plans in advance of the winter season at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda and Louth County Hospital, Dundalk; the additional resources, staffing and funding that will be allocated to roll out this initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38434/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Demand in Emergency Department's (ED's) reaches a more intense peak during the winter period. Therefore there is a requirement for winter planning and preparedness to be undertaken, to provide assurance that safe and effective care will be provided over the winter months given the additional anticipatory pressures arising from for example Influenza, Norovirus, severe weather and holiday periods.

As such Hospital Groups, Community Health Organisations and hospitals are all currently in the process of developing integrated winter plans to cover the period October 2017 to March 2018. These plans will be submitted to the HSE for approval in the coming weeks.

In relation to the specific plan for Our Ladies of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda and Louth, as this is a service matter I am referring it for direct answer to the HSE.