I appreciate the Ceann Comhairle giving me the opportunity to raise this issue. I am also appreciative of the Minister's attendance to deal with it.
A new accident and emergency department is needed at Cavan General Hospital. I understand HSE officials have assessed the department's facilities and that they have been deemed inadequate, lacking the appropriate accommodation for the patient numbers currently attending, as well as to meet the requirements of patients and staff. Next month marks the 25th anniversary of the opening of Cavan General Hospital and at the time the numbers of patients presenting at the emergency department were considerably lower. The importance of the facility to the people of Cavan and Monaghan is evident when one considers that in 2013, 40,000 patients were checked in at reception in the emergency department, with just over 30,000 being treated in the department. The remaining patients were treated at the paediatric assessment unit and the acute medical assessment unit. These units were developed in the past five to six years. I am sure the range of new facilities required has been well documented to the HSE and the Department. I sought this Topical Issue debate in the hope some urgency would be afforded to these discussions.
I understand the areas requiring attention include the provision of appropriate resuscitation and isolation facilities and more examination cubicles. The layout of the emergency department is not suitable, which naturally imposes additional burdens on staff and patients. I understand a minor operating theatre and three to four cubicles in which minor injury patients could be seen by advanced nurse practitioners and junior doctors would enhance considerably the workings of the emergency department. The information technology system requires updating and triage cubicles of appropriate dimensions are also required. I am sure we all wish to see specific waiting accommodation and treatment facilities for children.
I outline these requirements in the context of the success of Cavan General Hospital and take the opportunity to compliment the staff in all disciplines in the hospital for their commitment, diligence and professionalism. I know that the manager of the hospital, Ms Bridget Clarke, works extremely hard and diligently, giving great leadership in challenging times. As the Minister knows, Cavan Monaghan Hospital operates as a single acute hospital, based on two hospital sites, catering for a population of 133,566 people. These figures from the 2011 census represent a population increase of 11.31% on the 2006 census figure, with Cavan seeing the third highest population increase recorded in the 2011 census, closely behind Fingal and County Laois. This welcome increase in population creates an extra demand on health facilities and, in the context of health service delivery, the 2011 census indicated that there were 15,847 persons aged over 65 years and 4,157 aged over 80 in Cavan and Monaghan. This age profile is much higher than the national average for these age cohorts, which imposes additional demands on local hospitals and in the delivery of health services in general.