Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 7 Nov 2000

Vol. 525 No. 2

Written Answers. - Accident and Emergency Services.

Derek McDowell

Question:

181 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the serious concern expressed by a consultant at St. James's Hospital, Dublin 8, that overcrowding in the emergency department was threatening patient safety; the steps being taken to deal with this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24538/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

The responsibility for the accident and emergency facilities at the hospital concerned now rests with the Eastern Regional Health Authority. I am aware of the difficulties being encountered by hospitals delivering accident and emergency services and in particular the problem of overcrowding in accident and emergency departments.

Approval has been sought from my Department for the development of a new acute assessment unit and a major upgrading of the emergency department facilities at the hospital and I have recently announced support for this.

This new unit will be located adjacent to the hospital's accident and emergency department and will provide for speedier consultant interaction and improved services for patients. It is anticipated that this will reduce the number of investigations as earlier intervention and diagnosis to a more senior appropriate clinical level will result in a shorter average length of stay for patients and more efficient use of hospital beds.

I recently announced the allocation of an additional £25 million as part of a winter initiative designed to reduce the pressures on acute hospitals over the winter period. This funding will enable specific initiatives to be taken including initiatives in accident and emergency departments.

For patients who require admission to hospital, the shortage of sub-acute beds has caused problems in that acute hospitals have not been able to discharge patients in sufficient numbers and quickly enough, to cater for new patients requiring admission to the hospital, particularly those in accident and emergency departments. Additional step-down beds will be available to the hospital this year. As part of the winter initiative the ERHA will have access to an additional 495 beds by the end of March 2001.

The Deputy may also be aware that a report on accident and emergency services was submitted to the board of the Eastern Regional Health Authority recently. This report forms the basis for the terms of reference for an review of accident and emergency services in the region. The objective of this review is to examine in detail the existing accident and emergency services and to bring forward a comprehensive policy which will improve access and reduce waiting times for treatment and admission. I understand that an interim report of the review group is due to be presented to the board of the authority in the near future.