Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 February 2013
238. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in the opening of the new emergency department at the Mater Hospital, Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7736/13]
View answer239. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he or his Department have intervened in the matter of the failure of the new emergency department at the Mater Hospital, Dublin, to open; if so, if he will provide details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7737/13]
View answer240. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that additional resources are provided to the Mater Hospital, Dublin, to allow them to opening the new emergency department; if so, if he will detail these resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7738/13]
View answer241. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a new date for the opening of the new emergency department at the Mater Hospital, Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7739/13]
View answer242. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that there is no interruption to the provision of emergency services to the inner city when the relocation of the emergency department at the Mater Hospital, Dublin, takes place unlike the previous scheduled closure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7740/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 238 to 242, inclusive, together.
The Special Delivery Unit (SDU), has been working closely with the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital (MMUH) on improving trolley waits and patient experience. The provision of a new Emergency Department, as well as a new Acute Medicine Unit, combined with the recruitment of additional consultants in Acute Medicine, represents a significant investment and is at the forefront of hospital’s plan to address trolley waits and emergency department overcrowding through the increased presence of senior decision makers, enhanced clinical leadership, changing work practices and improved infrastructure.
The MMUH is undertaking the most significant transformative reform programme in its history. This includes the migration of a significant part of the existing clinical services (including a new Emergency Department and Acute Medical Unit) to a new building, the implementation of the national clinical care programmes and other internal reforms that will enable the hospital to meet existing challenges in terms of changing medical practice and lay the foundations for a sustainable future. Many of these changes have regional significance and are reflective of a change in the wider health economy.
I understand that the Executive management team in MMUH have been working with all relevant stakeholders in the region (hospitals, GPs, Gardai, Ambulance service ) to ensure a robust plan is in place to give effect to the Emergency Department move which is now scheduled to take place next Sunday, 17th February 2013.A move of this magnitude of necessity involves careful and prudent planning to minimise disruption. The Special Delivery Unithas been working closely with MMUH and the region (which includes the network of hospitals) to give effect to the transition to the new Emergency Department. These changes will allow for a much enhanced infrastructure to support the delivery of more efficient and effective care for patients presenting at the hospital .
