Vol. 560 No. 3
319 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children his plans to tackle practices by hospital consultants which delay hospital discharges, leading to overcrowding in accident and emergency departments as outlined in a recent report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2484/03]
I presume the Deputy is referring to the bed management report produced by Capita Consulting. This is an independent report commissioned on foot of recommendations made by the Labour Relations Commission, as part of the settlement of the industrial dispute in accident and emergency departments last year.
The study was carried out over a number of months, and consisted of interviews with nurses, doctors and hospital managers. A detailed survey was also conducted and a large quantity of data analysed. In general the Capita report found evidence of good bed management practices around the country. While the report is critical of certain aspects of bed management, it is important to remember that this is an independent report. Its purpose is to help establish some of the causes of weaknesses in the system, and provide guidance as to how these weaknesses, including those referred to by the Deputy, might be addressed.
This is just one of a number of measures being undertaken to improve accident and emergency services. Management structures and procedures in accident and emergency departments are being strengthened; a staffing review is nearing completion; a security review was conducted and its recommendations are being implemented; and capital improvement works are being undertaken in a number of accident and emergency departments.
The bed capacity initiative under the health strategy is progressing. Some 520 additional beds have been provided in 2002 and an additional 190 beds will be commissioned this year.
Following my approval of 29 additional accident and emergency consultant posts, Comhairle na nOspidéal prepared a detailed report on accident and emergency services. The report provides valuable advice on the structures of our emergency services and the necessary linkages required to eliminate the delays in emergency departments. In terms of manpower the report recommends a total of 74 consultants in emergency medicine nationally and recognises that the implementation of this recommendation will take time.
The national task force on medical staffing has conducted a review of hospital medical staffing needs as part of a series of measures designed to meet the needs of the European working time directive and the provision of a consultant-provided service. It is anticipated that implementation of the directive will require significant numbers of additional consultant posts. The task force is currently preparing a first report for my consideration.
All of the measures outlined above will be brought together to form an integrated strategy for the further development of accident and emergency services.
