I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 30, 40, 44 to 47, inclusive, 58, 66, 70, 75, 77, 86, 89, 93, 94, 96, 99, 104 and 112 together.
Immediately following my appointment, I set out to address the issues which have been causing unacceptable delays in patients being treated in our hospitals. I established the Special Delivery Unit (SDU), as set out in the Programme for Government. The SDU is working to unblock access to acute services by improving the flow of patients through the system. Since its establishment there has been significant improvements in the waiting times for unscheduled care against a background of reduced funding for health, reconfiguration of services, a very challenging socio-economic climate and a growing number of older persons with an overall increase in life expectancy.
There was significant progress during the course of 2012 in reducing the number of patients waiting on trolleys. Over 2012 there were 20,352 less patients waiting on trolleys in comparison to 2011, representing an overall reduction of 23.6%.
Since before Christmas hospitals have seen a significant increase in the number of very sick patients needing admission. The increase in norovirus in hospitals has been well publicised; we are also seeing high levels of admissions of frail elderly people, patients presenting with respiratory illness and of patients presenting with fractures.
However, evidence from the last year, and particularly over the last ten months, has proved that the health system has the capacity to respond to these challenges more quickly and is better at managing increased demand.
The situation is being actively managed at a national level with an intensive work programme having begun between the SDU’s liaison officers, the Clinical Programmes and the hospital teams. The SDU is satisfied that hospitals are engaged in ensuring that emergency patients are seen in a timely manner, focussing on working to achieve the national targets for unscheduled care.
I will have the information requested on each hospital sent out to the Deputies as soon as possible.