Paul McGrath
Question:17 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children when Mullingar Hospital, County Westmeath will be fully open. [19343/01]
Written Answers. - Hospital Services.
Approval for the establishment of a project team to commence the planning of phase 2B development at Longford-Westmeath General Hospital was given to the Midland Health Board in May 1999. The board did not prioritise this project in its national development plan indicative funding of £124 million at 2000 values over the period 2000-06.
Accordingly, a decision to proceed with the project can be taken only in the context of additional capital funding being made available to my Department.
Question No. 18 answered with Question No.11.
Derek McDowell
Question:19 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps he plans to take to deal with the situation identified in the recent study by the Eastern Regional Health Authority which found that more than 60 patients a day are having to wait on trolleys for up to six hours in the casualty departments of Dublin's acute hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19207/01]
The problem of lengthy waiting periods for patients deemed to require admission for acute hospital care and treatment following clinical assessment in the accident and emergency departments of hospitals providing such services in the eastern region was identified in the study referred to by the Deputy. The study found that for the year 2000 the number of patients waiting on trolleys for more that six hours averaged 62 patients per day. The study identified bed capacity as part of the problem and identified a range of internal and external factors which were contributing to delays in discharging patients.
The Deputy will appreciate that levels of attendance at accident and emergency departments are complex and cannot be predicted accurately in advance. In this regard periods of exceptional demand may be experienced and waiting periods for treatment may vary, particularly during the winter period. However, I assure the Deputy that every effort is being made to keep waiting times to an absolute minimum and appropriate medical care is provided to patients at all times.
Measures which I have taken to improve our accident and emergency services include the provision of a £32 million investment package aimed at alleviating anticipated service pressures and maintaining services to patients, particularly in the acute hospital sector, over the winter period. The investment package has been targeted at a number of key service areas, including the recruitment of an additional 29 accident and emergency consultants. The recruitment of additional consultants to this key area is designed to reduce any unnecessary delays experienced by patients attending accident and emergency departments and to ensure that patients have improved access to a prompt senior clinical decision making service. Additional funding was also provided for the contracting of additional private nursing home places by the Eastern Regional Health Authority, ERHA, and the health boards. These places are for patients whose acute phase of treatment has been completed but who require additional care in an alternative setting. The ERHA and the health boards contracted 761 beds under the initiative and this helped to free up acute beds for patients awaiting admission to hospital.
I have provided funding to support a range of initiatives at hospitals in the eastern region which are designed to improve patient services. These include funding of £300,000 towards the enhancement of security cover in accident and emergency departments; £5.19 million towards the development of accident and emergency facilities at St. James's Hospital; the provision of minor injuries units in Beaumont, Mater, James Connolly Memorial, St James's and Tallaght Hospitals; development of pilot services for deep venous thrombosis in Beaumont Hospital and for chest pain management at St. James's Hospital; the provision of a pilot discharge lounge in Beaumont Hospital.
In recent weeks funding of £3 million has also been provided to the Eastern Regional Health Authority for the enhancement of acute hospital services within the region, including the commissioning of 53 additional acute beds and the appointment of patient liaison personnel in eight accident and emergency departments across the region to enhance the existing patient support service.
I have also requested Comhairle na nOspidéal to review the structure, operation and staffing of accident and emergency services and departments with the aim of improving the provision and quality of patient care. The review, which is now under way, will take into account the report of the Medical Manpower Forum, policies of the Irish Accident and Emergency Association and the Institute of Orthopaedic Surgeons, international best practice, the views of health authorities, management, medical practitioners and other relevant matters. The findings of this review will inform future policy decisions in relation to the development of accident and emergency services. I am satisfied the initiatives I have outlined will help to relieve some of the pressures although I accept there is a need for additional targeted investment to the accident and emergency service to allow for future improvement in services.
I have initiated a national review of bed capacity in both the acute and non-acute settings, on foot of the commitment by this Government in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. The bed review, which is at an advanced stage, is being conducted by my Department in conjunction with the Department of Finance and in consultation with the social partners. The review involves the development of a longer term investment strategy for the acute and non-acute sectors and is specifically examining the need for acute beds on a national basis.