Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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85. To ask the Minister for Health the reason to date in 2019 more than 1,640 persons over 75 years of age have endured emergency department wait times of more than 24 hours at University Hospital Limerick. [48771/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Figures provided by the HSE show that for the first ten months of 2019, the number of patients attending University Hospital Limerick decreased by 1.1% and the number of attendances of patients over the age of 75 decreased by 1.5% compared to the same period in 2018. Similarly, admissions in University Hospital Limerick decreased by 11.3%.

Notwithstanding the decrease in attendances and admissions at UHL there has been an increase of 16% of the number of patients waiting on trollies as compared to this time last year. There are a number of factors which may affect the waiting times for older patients. In particular, people in the older age category presenting to EDs are more likely to have complex needs and be admitted then the population generally. Consequently, a higher number of these patients may have to be accommodated on trolleys, pending their admission to a ward. There are also issues around delayed discharges of care which can cause congestion within hospital emergency departments. In the case of UHL there has been an increase of 185% in the number of delayed discharges of care.

The HSE Winter Plan was launched on Thursday 14 November in preparation for the anticipated increase in demand over the winter period. The Government allocated an additional €26m to fund the implementation of the Plan. Nine Winter Action Teams, each aligned to a Community Healthcare Organisation and associated acute hospitals and Hospital Groups, have prepared Integrated Winter Plans. These plans focus on demand management and reduction, staffing availability, timely access to the most appropriate care pathway for patients, and appropriate timely discharge from acute hospitals. Each Action Team has set out a range of initiatives it will undertake within its area to implement the Plan.

In relation to UHL a capital budget of €19.5 million has been approved for the provision of a modular 60-bed inpatient ward block at the Hospital, with funding of €10 million allocated in 2019. The HSE have advised that the enabling works are complete, and the main contractor is now commencing work. This important project will go some way towards addressing the acknowledged lack of bed capacity in the region.

I acknowledge the challenges that are facing the emergency departments in our hospitals. In addition to the immediate measures being undertaken in the Winter Plan, the Government through the Sláintecare Strategy and the investment being made in accordance Project Ireland 2040, is addressing the issues of access to healthcare and capacity in the system.

I am confident that together with the more immediate measures being undertaken under the Winter Plan and the strategic approach undertaken by the Government under Sláintecare and Project Ireland that progress will be made in addressing the difficulties in the emergency departments.