Written Answers. - Road Traffic Accidents.
Rory O'Hanlon
Question:
395
Dr. O'Hanlon
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
the number of bed days taken up by people involved in road traffic accidents for each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26345/01]
Rory O'Hanlon
Question:
396
Dr. O'Hanlon
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
the number of people attending accident and emergency departments and out-patient departments in each of the past three years; the number who attended as a result of road traffic accidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26346/01]
Rory O'Hanlon
Question:
397
Dr. O'Hanlon
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
the logistical problems caused for hospitals, both admission and accident and emergency, by the number of road traffic accidents and other violent incidents; the plans he has to address these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[26347/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 395 to 397, inclusive, together.
The number of people who attended accident and emergency departments and out-patient departments in each of the past three years is as follows:
A&E and Out-Patient Attendances at Publicly Funded Acute Hospitals, 1998 to 2000
|
1998
|
1999
|
2000
|
|
A&E Attendances
|
1,242,243
|
1,229,303
|
1,201,334
|
|
Out-PatientAttendances*
|
1,935,688
|
1,930,942
|
2,009,341
|
*Refers to attendances at consultant-controlled clinics only.
Source: Hospital Inpatient Enquiry System (HIPE).
The number of bed days taken up by people involved in road traffic accidents over the period 1998 to 2000 is as follows:
Number of Cases and Bed Days for Inpatients Admitted from Road Traffic Accidents
|
Year
|
Number of Cases
|
Total Bed Days
|
|
1998
|
7,748
|
46,607
|
|
1999
|
7,580
|
45,819
|
|
2000
|
7,338
|
39,988
|
Source: Hospital In-patient Enquiry System (HIPE).
Information on the number of people who attended accident and emergency departments and out-patient departments in each of the past three years as a result of road traffic accidents is not routinely collected by my Department. My Department has, therefore, asked the regional chief executive of the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the chief executive officers of the health boards to compile the information requested and forward it to him directly.
The information supplied indicates a significant reduction in the number of in-patients admitted following road traffic accidents between 1998 and 2000. In addition, the number of bed days taken up by patients admitted following a road traffic accident has fallen. Notwithstanding the reported reduction in the figures, the volume of admissions resulting from road traffic accidents continues to put considerable pressure on the hospital system, including accident and emergency departments.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I have initiated a wide range of measures to improve our accident and emergency services. This includes the provision of a £32 million investment package aimed at alleviating service pressures and maintaining services to patients, particularly in the acute hospital sector. The investment package has been targeted at a number of key service areas, including the recruitment of additional accident and emergency consultants to ensure patients have improved access to a prompt senior clinical decision-making service.
I have also provided funding to the ERHA and the health boards to support a further range of initiatives in accident and emergency departments. These include £5.19 million towards the development of accident and emergency facilities at St. James's Hospital, provision of minor injuries units in the Beaumont, Mater, James Connolly Memorial, St. James's and Tallaght Hospitals, development of an accident and emergency department at the Mater Hospital, extension of the accident and emergency department at St. Columcille's Hospital, development of pilot services for deep venous thrombosis in Beaumont Hospital, provision of a chest pain service at St. James's Hospital, provision of a pilot discharge lounge in Beaumont Hospital, recruitment of discharge planners and patient liaison personnel at accident and emergency sites in the eastern region, development of new accident and emergency departments at St. Vincent's Hospital, Elm Park, and the Children's Hospital, Temple Street, planning of a new accident and emergency department for Cork University Hospital, development of an accident and emergency department at Galway University Hospital, Castlebar General Hospital, Tullamore General Hospital and Portlaoise General Hospital, appointment of a design team for the development of a new accident and emergency department at Roscommon County Hospital and upgrading of accident and emergency facilities at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda,
Monaghan General Hospital and Our Lady's Hospital, Navan.
I am satisfied that the initiatives which I have outlined will help relieve pressures on accident and emergency services. However, I accept that there is still a need for additional targeted investment to the service. This will be addressed as a priority in the forthcoming health strategy.
