Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 8 May 1991

Vol. 408 No. 1

Written Answers. - Dublin Hospital Initiative Group.

Monica Barnes

Question:

75 Mrs. Barnes asked the Minister for Health whether the recommendations of the interim report from the Kennedy Group regarding accident and emergency departments were implemented on schedule by 1 October 1990; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Michael Noonan

Question:

82 Mr. Noonan (Limerick East) asked the Minister for Health whether he has requested and received reports from each hospital concerned and from the Eastern Health Board on the way they can give effect to the recommendations of the Dublin Hospital Initiative Group; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Hanlon)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 75 and 82 together.

The principal proposals of the Dublin Hospital Initiative Group in relation to better management of the hospital workload recommended in their interim report that each hospital (a) should introduce, if it did not already have, an effective admissions policy involving the active co-operation of consultants, nursing staff and management; (b) should have an effective bed management policy in operation to ensure maximum utilisation of available bed stock, including the appointment of senior nursing personnel as bed managers to operate this policy; (c) should arrange its bed complement so as to reflect demands made as a result of its case mix and, in particular, to introduce an appropriate number of protected one-day and five-day wards; (d) should have an observation ward adjacent to the A & E Department under the overall administrative control of the A & E consultant; and (e) should ensure that discharge planning begins at the point of admission and is a structured process involving the key disciplines as appropriate.

I have received reports from all the hospitals concerned and from the Eastern Health Board outlining the progress they have made in implementing the good practice recommendations contained in the interim report of the Dublin Hospital Initiative Group. The process of implementation was assisted by the efforts of a special sub-group of the group, who were available to support the hospitals.

I am satisfied that, for the most part, hospitals took steps to put in place all possible measures in advance of the anticipated pressure of the winter season and that these good practice measures are very valuable in ensuring that hospitals manage their workloads in a more effective manner.