Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 29 Mar 1995

Vol. 451 No. 3

Written Answers. - Dublin Hospital Ward Closures.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

47 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that, on the evening of Wednesday, 22 March 1995, several patients were left lying on trolleys in the accident and emergency department of a hospital (details supplied) in Dublin in view of the fact there were no beds available; if empty wards were closed; if so, the plans, if any, that exist to reopen these wards; the steps, if any, he intends to take to ensure that an acceptable level of service is provided to patients at all times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6593/95]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick-East): The accident and emergency department of Beaumont Hospital provides 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 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. Every effort is made to keep this practice to a minimum.

All patients, whilst in the accident and emergency department, are under the care of medical and nursing staff. Every endeavour is made to make patients as comfortable as possible and this includes the provision of food to patients while they are awaiting a hospital bed.

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 £850,000 as an immediate response to recent problems experienced by the Dublin accident and emergency hospitals. Difficulties which have arisen recently have not been caused by a shortage of acute hospital beds but are due to insufficient step-down facilities for patients who are no longer in need of acute hospital care.

In relation to Beaumont Hospital there has been a number of occasions in recent months when, owing to the accident and emergency department being particularly busy, some patients have been accommodated on trolleys for a period until a bed has become available. To counteract this, elective admissions have from time to time been cancelled. Five-day wards have been opened as seven-day wards, there has been more regular liaision with general practitioners and an action plan has been put in place to ensure that beds are made available at the earliest opportunity for patients admitted through the accident and emergency department.

Beaumont Hospital was opened in November 1987 as a 600-bed hospital. The approved number of beds has since been increased to 621. The hospital's full approved complement is in use for patient care.

I 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.