Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 31 May 1994

Vol. 443 No. 4

Written Answers. - Hospital Beds.

Jim Mitchell

Question:

185 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the continuing shortage of beds in Dublin hospitals for urgent cases and specifically in the Mater Hospital, Dublin 7, and in a case (details supplied) in Dublin 7; 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.

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. At all times, however, priority is accorded to those patients most in need of immediate medical attention. Because of the unpredictable nature of the workload which may present, 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.

Every endeavour is made to make patients as comfortable as possible in the accident and emergency departments and I understand that food is provided to patients who are awaiting admission for a hospital bed and is served at the usual meal times. All patients, whilst in an accident and emergency department are under the care of medical and nursing staff.

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 accident and emergency hospitals in Dublin, who were no longer in need of acute hospital care, in stepdown accommodation more appropriate to their condition.

The change which I have recently announced 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.