Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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351. To ask the Minister for Health the number of times a full capacity protocol was invoked in each of the years 2011 to 2018, by hospital in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2444/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The HSE National Escalation Framework consists of a tiered and incremental suite of actions to be adapted and implemented in hospitals with an ED during times when such hospitals are challenged in matching capacity and demand for acute inpatient care. 

The full capacity protocol is the last escalation step in the HSE National Escalation Framework and is activated to alleviate pressure on the Emergency Department.

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

Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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352. To ask the Minister for Health the emergency department waiting times greater than 24 hours for persons over 75 years of age in 2018; if the targets were met; if not, the number of persons over 75 years of age that have had a wait of more than 24 hours in an emergency department in 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2445/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I 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.

We are in a very busy period for our health services, with many sites reporting significant numbers of patient attendances. Hospitals are also reporting a significant increase in the numbers of patients presenting with respiratory and flu-like illness.

Key actions are underway as part of the Winter Plan to support hospitals during this period of peak demand. These 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 raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.