Ciarán Ahern (Dublin South West, Labour)
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2454. To ask the Minister for Health if she is aware that average wait-times in the Tallaght University Hospital emergency department have risen by 43% since 2020; the actions she is taking to remedy the situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46177/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the current pressures facing Tallaght University Hospital and I wish to acknowledge the distress overcrowded Emergency Departments cause to patients, their families, and frontline staff working in very challenging conditions in the hospital.

The current UEC Operational Plan, which includes Tallaght University Hospital, is founded on the prior UEC Operational plan, providing continuation and sustainability to the performance improvements that have been achieved since the establishment of the 1st plan. The HSE in partnership with the Department of Health are finalising the 2025-2026 UEC Operational Plan, continuing successful initiatives and driving further service delivery improvements.

Priority actions in this plan are set out under four operational pillars: Hospital avoidance, Emergency Department operations, In-hospital care delivery and Discharge management. The actions are focused on balancing system capacity and demand while optimising patient flow.

Amongst the initiatives involved in the plan are:

• Vaccine Preventable Illness: The HSE is promoting the uptake of Influenza, Measles and COVID-19 vaccinations to improve compliance for all target groups including Healthcare Workers and Specialist Care in the Community.

• Community Specialist Teams (CSTs) for Chronic Disease Management to deliver 19,000 patient contacts each month. CSTs for Older Persons will deliver 11,750 patient contacts each month.

• GP Out of Hours Work with GP Out of Hours Services to maintain/increase GP OOH contacts and reduce the level of GP OOH referrals to Eds.

• National Ambulance Service (NAS) Care Pathways Maximize usage of existing NAS alternative care pathways.

• Injury Units to provide a 7-day service, 8am to 8pm including Bank Holidays.

• Provide additional and extended hours for senior decision makers and staff integral to supporting 7/7 operations.

In relation Tallaght University Hospital specifically, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.