Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 December 2016
157. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of emergency department attendances at the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore for each the years, 2013 to date in 2016, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40236/16]
View answer159. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on trolleys at the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore for each of the months of 2015, by month, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40238/16]
View answer160. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on trolleys at the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore for each of the months of 2016, by month, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40239/16]
View answer172. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of times the full capacity protocol was initiated at the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore for each the years, 2011 to date in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40251/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 157, 159, 160 and 172 together.
It is unacceptable that patients wait on trolleys for long periods. Over the coming months it is essential that the health service plans effectively for expected surges in emergency care demand. My Department, working with the HSE, has been driving a range of measures to improve patient ED experience times.
Following the formation of Government an additional €40 million was provided to assist in the management of winter pressures. Utilising this additional funding the HSE developed the Winter Initiative Plan 2016 – 2017 which was published in September. Key aspects of this plan are being implemented at hospital and community services level across the country.
Recently, the HSE convened a Winter Initiative Health Summit and I met with Hospital Group CEOs, as well as hospital and Community Health Organisation managers, to reinforce the importance of driving key performance improvements across primary, acute and social care to reduce ED overcrowding and to plan for expected surges in demand in our EDs in the New Year.
In relation to the particular queries raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
