Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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337. To ask the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied). [61568/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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From the week commencing 12 December, the existing ambulance bypass protocols, in place for Our Lady’s Hospital Navan, are being updated to address urgent patient safety matters to include patients who are critically or seriously unwell, or likely to deteriorate. The current ambulance bypass protocol includes paediatric patients, obstetrics patients, major trauma patients, heart attack patients, and stroke care patients.

The HSE Winter Plan for 2022-23, published on 11 October, will support acute and community services this winter to respond to anticipated high levels of emergency attendances and admissions across the acute sector, long waiting times in EDs, and high occupancy rates across acute hospital settings.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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338. To ask the Minister for Health the research that his Department has undertaken on the number of ambulances needed just to make up the shortfall of ambulances as they wait at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital accident and emergency department, Drogheda. [61569/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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339. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department accepts the view of senior clinicians and consultants in Drogheda Hospital that the ambulance bypass of Navan accident and emergency department and the proposed closure of Navan accident and emergency department could lead to the death of patients; and if he has carried out any investigation into the veracity of these claims. [61570/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the HSE has proposed a process of planned service changes at Our Lady's Hospital Navan and has advised that these changes are necessary to support safe service delivery on a sustained basis and are driven first and foremost by patient safety considerations.  

No decision regarding the HSE’s proposal for the transition of the Emergency Department at Navan has been agreed by me, or by government.

While recognising the very real clinical concerns identified, the Government is clear that several important issues, including additional capacity in other hospitals impacted and the continued ability of people in the Navan area to access emergency and urgent care, would need to be fully addressed before any proposed transition by the HSE.

For this reason, I have asked the HSE to undertake a review of capacity. The review has been received and is currently under consideration and engagement in relation to this matter is ongoing.

From the week commencing 12 December, the existing ambulance bypass protocols, in place for Our Lady’s Hospital Navan, are being updated to address urgent patient safety matters to include patients who are critically or seriously unwell, or likely to deteriorate. The current ambulance bypass protocol includes paediatric patients, obstetrics patients, major trauma patients, heart attack patients, and stroke care patients.

I have encouraged the HSE to engage further with the Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital management team with a view to ensuring sufficient capacity is in place across the region to meet demand.