Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
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108. To ask the Minister for Health how she plans to reduce the number of patients left waiting on hospital trolleys in University Hospital Galway given the impact this is having on elderly people and those with severe medical problems; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9651/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Officials in my Department have contacted HSE West and North West in regard to your query re Galway University Hospital and the following outlines the current position.

Galway University Hospital has experienced a period of sustained escalation over recent months, not only affected by the winter surge and associated high incidences of respiratory virus & winter vomiting outbreaks, but also the significant impact Storm Eowyn had on patients in terms of additional admissions and the challenges in being able to discharge patients to a safe and warm environment.

To date, there has been a 6% increase in Emergency Department attendances Year to date (YTD) compared to 2024 and compared to 2023, this has increased by 17%. ED Admissions have increased by 4% YTD. The number of patients >75 years old in attendance has increased by 8% compared to 2024. This figure has increased by 31% since 2023.

The following are a number of current initiatives with a focus on improving patient experience times and length of stay for patients, in particular those aged >75:

1. The Emergency Department Transit Area (EDTA) is currently utilised in UHG to prioritise beds for those >75 years in the Emergency Department so that these patients do not have to wait on trolleys.
2. A Bed Utilisation Study in the hospital has been undertaken in recent weeks to identify any blockages or inhibitors in relation to patient flow. A Quality Improvement plan is being drafted to address the recommendations and action accordingly.
3. A Multi-Agency Discharge Event is taking place in University Hospital Galway on the 5th and 6th of March 2025 in order to improve patient flow across the system, to recognise and unblock delays and improve internal and external processes.
4. Patient flow improvement groups within GUH are working on Quality Improve Plans to improve cohorting and egress for patients to improve capacity within the hospital.
5. Patient Flow and Discharge Coordinators are in place for in place seven days a week.
6. GUH have twice daily Safety Flow Huddles/operational hub meetings to ensure all day to day operations of patient flow are operationalised and functioning with clear escalations in place.
7. Mars (Multidisciplinary Allied Response Team) and FFD (frailty) team are present in ED and ensure early intervention for frailty screening and also admission avoidance. Physiotherapy provide a 24/7 emergency on-call service which includes facilitating same day discharge.
8. Service agreements are in place with both the Galway Clinic and the Bon Secours to provide medical/frailty beds to support bed capacity for GUH.

The Masterplan will play a pivotal role in delivering on National and Regional healthcare policies. The new plan will see elective, day surgery and ambulatory care move to the Merlin Park University Hospital campus while complex acute, elective and unscheduled inpatients and day cases, oncology and maternity and paediatric inpatient care remains in UHG. It will also provide the required bed capacity to address the demand for increased inpatient beds and additional day case requirements.

Hospital management and clinicians remain fully committed to reducing waiting times and improving the experience of patients attending ED.