Vol. 413 No. 7
19 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health if her attention has been drawn to the long delays that can be experienced in the accident and emergency departments of hospitals, with particular reference to Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9; whether hospitals give priority to the medical condition of patients or are all patients required to wait their turn; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
By the very nature of its work it is not possible to say in advance what the workload of a hospital accident and emergency department will be at any particular time.
Hospitals accord priority to those patients in need of immediate medical attention with the result that at busy times less urgent cases may have to wait for a period before being treated. Where possible hospitals operate a triage system, which involves a nurse assessing patients on their arrival at the accident and emergency department so as to ensure accurate priority of care.
Under the current rota arrangement in Dublin, where peaks in activity occur in a hospital arrangements are made to divert patients to less busy hospitals so as to even out the workload. These arrangements apply in the case of Beaumont Hospital when necessary.
I would remind the Deputy that patients frequently undergo tests and remain under observation for a period in the accident and emergency department to enable staff to decide whether admission to hospital is necessary.
