Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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937. To ask the Minister for Health the average number of persons waiting on trolleys in Tallaght University Hospital in July 2018 and August 2018 and the number for July 2017 and August 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36795/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I fully acknowledge the distress for patients and their families caused by overcrowded conditions in some of our hospital Emergency Departments (EDs) and am committed to tackling overcrowding in EDs, which impacts on patients and staff working on the front line.

In view of the current pressures on the hospital system, which particularly impact on EDs and the recommendations of the Health System Capacity Review, I have asked the HSE to identify the location and mix of beds across the hospital system which can be opened in 2018 and into 2019 and 2020 to alleviate overcrowding in our hospital EDs and improve preparedness for Winter 2018/2019.

The Department has received proposals from the HSE, which identify an additional 600 acute beds and 270 residential care beds to be phased in between 2018 and 2020. These proposals are being considered.

Between January and July 2018, total attendances were up 3.5% and admissions up 1.6%, compared to the same period in 2017. For those over 75, attendances rose by 5.6% and admissions by 5.2%, compared to the same period in 2017.

Regarding the specific issue raised by the Deputy, there were a total of 578 patients recorded as waiting on trolleys at 8 a.m. in Tallaght University Hospital ED in July 2018, as compared with 280 in July 2017, an increase of 106%.

The daily average number of patients recorded as waiting on trolleys at 8 a.m. during July 2018 was about 19, as compared with a daily average of 9 in July 2017.

In relation to August 2017, there were 452 patients recorded as waiting on trolleys at 8 a.m., which equates to a daily average of about 15.

The figures for August 2018 are still being validated by the HSE and will be available on 13 September. I have asked my Department to update the Deputy when these figures are received.