Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 January 2015
617. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the number of accident and emergency department patients waiting on trolleys in hospitals here on 5 January 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1166/15]
View answerThe Government regards trolley waits of over 9 hours as unacceptable and acknowledges the difficulties which the current surge in ED activity is causing for patients, their families and the staff who are doing their utmost to provide safe, quality care in very challenging circumstances.
On 5 January 2015 there were 445 patients on trolleys in Emergency Departments according to the INMO website which also shows 118 patients on wards. However, TrolleyGAR figures collated at 2pm indicated that this number had reduced to 317 and by 8pm the number had further reduced to 272 due to the active intervention of staff both within hospitals and in primary and community care services.
All hospitals have escalation plans to manage not only patient flow but also patient safety in a responsive, controlled and planned way that supports and ensures the delivery of optimum patient care. These plans include the opening of additional overflow areas, reopening of closed beds, provision of additional diagnostic scans and Consultants doing additional ward rounds to improve the appropriate flow of patients through the hospital system. Other actions being taken include the provision of additional home care packages, additional transition beds in nursing homes, 300 additional Fair Deal places and an extension in Community Intervention Teams.
The Government has provided additional funding of €3 million in 2014 and €25 million in 2015 to address delayed discharges. This funding is being targeted at hospital and community services which can demonstrate initiatives to address specific needs of delayed discharge patients most positively and therefore improve timeliness for admissions from Emergency Departments and waiting lists.
The Minister convened the Emergency Department Taskforce to find long term solutions to overcrowding by providing additional focus and momentum in dealing with the challenges presented by the current trolley waits. Following an initial meeting in December, the HSE is working on an action plan to be finalised by the end of January to specifically address ED issues with a view to a significant reduction in trolley waits over the course of 2015.
