Ceisteanna—Questions. Written Answers. - Dublin Accident Departments.
Richard Bruton
Question:
303
Mr. R. Bruton
asked the
Minister for Health,
in respect of each of the Dublin Accident and Emergency Departments, the action, if any that has been taken to implement the proposals made by the Kennedy report some years ago on overcoming problems for patients in such Departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[3241/94]
The Dublin Hospital Initiative Group, which was chaired by Professor David Kennedy, made wide-ranging recommendations regarding the more efficient use of all acute hospital services in the Dublin area. These recommendations covered aspects which were common to all of the Dublin accident and emergency hospitals, such as the inter-action between the accident and emergency department and other departments within the acute hospitals; admission, bed management and discharge policies; and the need for step-down facilities for elderly in-patients no longer requiring acute hospital services.
Following the publication in September 1991 of the reports of the Dublin Hospital Initiative Group, a second group, the Dublin Hospital Advisory Group, which was also chaired by Professor David Kennedy, monitored and reviewed progress in relation to the implementation of these reports' "good practice" recommendations. This group found that the implementation of the recommendations was broadly satisfactory, although it was recognised that to put them fully into effect would take some time.
Certain recommendations required the provision of additional resources, and, as such, have had to be considered in the context of individual hospital's development priorities and the funds available for improvements throughout the health services as a whole.
In 1992, £500,000 was made available so that facilities could be put in place for the elderly. Shortly after coming to office, I approved a sum of £500,000 to tackle the shortage of step-down accommodation. In December 1993, I allocated a further £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 step-down accommodation more appropriate to their condition. This action helped significantly to relieve the seasonal pressures on the hospitals.
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.
