Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

655. To ask the Minister for Health the steps that are being taken to ease the continuing overcrowding issues at emergency departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25631/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I wish to acknowledge the distress overcrowded Emergency Departments (EDs) cause to patients, their families, and frontline staff working in very challenging conditions in hospitals throughout the country.

This Government is doing a huge amount to increase capacity in our health service by funding an unprecedented increase in staff and beds. We are delivering on this although more needs to be done.

We experienced a very challenging winter and our EDs continue to see prolonged levels of high daily presentations and congestion. Overcrowding is now a year-round challenge and consequently, I have asked the HSE to develop a year-round urgent care plan. The HSE is currently developing a three-year urgent and emergency care programme to deliver sustainable improvements to unscheduled care. A key priority for my Department is the improvement of Patient Experience Time (PET) and reform of service delivery across the entire health system is a key part in achieving this.

In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.