I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 30 together.
In the period immediately preceding Christmas and during Christmas, Ireland, in common with much of Europe, was affected by a major influenza epidemic. This had two immediate effects on the health service. First, there was a very sharp increase in the number of patients presenting to general practitioners and at hospitals throughout the country. On examination many of these were found to require admission to hospital. The second effect of the epidemic was on hospital staff whose numbers were temporarily reduced through illness.
There was a 40 per cent increase in medical admissions to hospitals during December and January compared with the same period last year. Eight thousand more medical patients than would have been expected were dealt with in this period.
I have to say, contrary to the impression which many people have sought to convey, that the health services coped very well with a difficult situation. Health boards and hospitals were given all necessary flexibility to do whatever was necessary to cope with the problem. Beds were re-opened, extra beds were brought into commission, extra staff were taken on, and staff who were due to take leave over Christmas stayed at work.
I am satisfied that the health service responded rapidly and flexibly to the emergency. Inevitably, many of the additional patients could not be cared for in optimum conditions. The scale of the demand for hospital services resulted in some patients being looked after for some period of time in day wards, in additional beds put up in standard wards or in corridors. I fully appreciate that these arrangements were often unsatisfactory for both patients and staff but the great majority of those concerned appreciated the unusual circumstances which led to these measures being taken.
I have indicated on a number of occasions my concern at delays in elective admissions particularly for some specialties. For that reason the Government made an additional £15 million available in July of last year to provide a 24 hour accident and emergency service at each of the major Dublin hospitals and to reduce waiting lists. I am pleased with the progress which has been made to date but the full impact of the measures taken has not yet become apparent. An additional £120 million is being expended on public health services in 1990. The resources already made available for hospital services should be sufficient to ensure adequate and prompt care for all those who need it.
As I have said already, many reckless and completely unfounded claims were made about patients being refused admission to hospital or being denied necessary treatment. No effort was made to check the truth or otherwise of these stories before going to the media.