Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 8 Mar 1994

Vol. 440 No. 1

Written Answers. - Mater Hospital (Dublin) Casualty Department.

Jim Mitchell

Question:

155 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the problems that exist at the Mater Hospital casualty and out-patients department in recent weeks; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that patients re-visiting the hospital with appointments, to have stitches removed for example, found after several visits that the casualty department is still closed and that the explanation being given is that there are no beds available in the hospital and people are being dealt with on stretchers; the plans, if any, he has to alleviate this problem as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin)

The accident and emergency departments of the six major hospitals in Dublin operate a 24-hour service. The dressing clinic at the Mater Hospital is located within its accident and emergency department. The Mater Hospital has advised me that it has been necessary on recent occasions to cancel the dressing clinic at short notice due to the number of patients attending the accident and emergency department and also due to the number of patients awaiting admission to the hospital from the accident and emergency department.

I have been advised by the Mater Hospital that, in urgent cases, patients have been advised to return to the accident and emergency department to have dressings changed and, where possible, patients have been referred to their local health centres.

The Mater Hospital is at present examining the situation with a view to relocating the Dressing Clinic to another location which would be in close proximity to the Accident and Emergency Department. The hospital is also examining the feasibility of providing additional observation beds at the Accident and Emergency Department.

Because of the nature of the work, it is not possible to predict the workload of hospital Accident and Emergency Departments at any particular time. However, at all times, priority is accorded to those patients most in need of immediate medical attention. Because of the unpredictable nature of the workload which may arise it can happen that on occasion patients must be placed in temporary accommodation pending the availability of more appropriate beds. I can assure the Deputy that every effort is made to keep this practice to a minimum.

The position regarding the Accident and Emergency Departments is monitored by my Department on an ongoing basis. In this regard, shortly after coming into office I approved a sum of £500,000 to provide an immediate response to a problem of this type. In December 1993, following further discussions, I allocated an additional £250,000 to the Eastern Health Board to enable the pressures on the Accident and Emergency Hospitals to be eased. This was achieved through the placing of more than 100 patients from the six major A & E hospitals in Dublin, who were no longer in need of acute hospital care, in step-down accommodation more appropriate to their condition.

The change which I announced recently in relation to the charge for attendance at Accident and Emergency Departments is intended to create an incentive for patients to attend their general practitioner in the first instance, in cases where their condition would be most appropriately treated at this level. I am hopeful that this change will help to ease the pressure on hospital Accident and Emergency Departments.

I would like to assure the Deputy of my continuing concern that the Accident and Emergency hospitals in Dublin are enabled to respond effectively to the demands placed upon them and that I will continue to monitor the situation with a view to taking further action if required.