Michael Harty (Clare, Independent)
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153. To ask the Minister for Health the methodology for calculating the trolleyGAR statistics on patients waiting in casualty for admission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2129/19]

Michael Harty (Clare, Independent)
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154. To ask the Minister for Health if patients waiting on corridors or in extra beds in wards are considered as part of the trolleyGAR statistics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2130/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 154 together.

I wish to acknowledge the distress overcrowded EDs cause to patients, their families, and frontline staff working in very challenging working conditions in hospitals throughout the country. Hospitals are increasingly operating at or above capacity, with year-round demand pressures that are further challenged over the winter months.

Key actions are now underway, as part of the Winter Plan, to support hospitals during this period of peak demand to include: the opening of additional beds, the use of private hospital capacity, frailty intervention teams in EDs, additional homecare packages and transitional care beds, and additional diagnostics in hospitals and for GPs.

In relation to the particular query about the HSE TrolleyGAR count methodology, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.

Michael Harty (Clare, Independent)
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155. To ask the Minister for Health the statistics in relation to elective admissions and procedures which have been cancelled to date as part of the winter plan 2018 to 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2131/19]

Michael Harty (Clare, Independent)
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159. To ask the Minister for Health the additional diagnostic investigations that have been made available to general practitioners as outlined in the winter plan 2018 to 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2135/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 155 and 159 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Winter Plan came into effect on 1 December 2018 and will continue until 31 March 2019. The Plan seeks to ensure that the health system is as prepared as possible for the increase in demand on services over the coming months, within existing capacity and financial parameters.

Key actions are now underway, as part of the Winter Plan, and a €30 million investment has been made in improving services for patients during this period of peak demand to include: the opening of additional beds, the use of private hospital capacity, frailty intervention teams in Emergency Departments, additional homecare packages and transitional care beds along with additional diagnostics in hospitals and for GPs.

In addition, the NTPF has established a fund of €1m which will support the HSE Winter plans with a focus on increasing access to diagnostics in both private facilities and in-house. To date, out of 5,000 vouchers, the NTPF has issued 2,300 vouchers to Emergency Departments to provide patients with access to diagnostics.

In relation to the specific query regarding additional diagnostics made available to GPs under the winter plan, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.