James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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96. To ask the Minister for Health the reason for the significant increase in overcrowding in Naas hospital emergency department over the past two years. [43596/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I fully acknowledge the distress overcrowded Emergency Departments cause to patients, their families and frontline staff working in very challenging working conditions in hospitals throughout the country. I recognise that hospitals are increasingly operating at or above capacity, with year-round demand pressures that are further challenged over the winter months.

As Minister for Health, I am committed to maintaining the focus on addressing overcrowding in our hospital emergency departments. My Department is working closely with the HSE to ensure that local and regional winter plans at hospital group and community health care organisation level are consolidated and supported through policies and plans at national level to ensure the most effective response to the winter challenges to unscheduled care provision.

I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the specific query raised by the Deputy in relation to Naas Hospital.