Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 October 2017
433. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the dangerous levels of overcrowding at the emergency department of Tallaght hospital in the week of 25 September 2017; if the HSE will act on the recommendations of the 2011 HIQA inquiry into overcrowding at the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41857/17]
View answerThere is no doubt that our public hospital system is seeing growing demand for care. Last year alone, there was a 2% increase in inpatient and day-case activity over 2015, as well as approximately 5% increase in Emergency Department, ED, attendances. Demand for services at Tallaght hospital is increasing year on year. The hospital experienced a 9% increase in ED presentations in 2016, with a 10% increase in presentations of 75-year-old patients. The trend continues in 2017 with further 10.7% increase in attendances and a 7% increase in admissions by persons aged 75 years up to August. Overall admissions to the hospital have increased by 4.7% this year.
The hospital is working to address this demand and the HSE has highlighted the following improvements in relation to Tallaght Hospital Emergency Department.
The new Emergency Department, ED, at Tallaght hospital is fully functional. There has been a 50% increase in the space available within the ED with the appropriate level staffing in place.
There has been significant focus on process improvements within the acute floor and the hospital in general. This has taken place with support of the clinical programmes, some of these include the opening of a rapid assessment and treatment area within the ED, development of clinical patient pathways (including for DVT, PE and patients presenting with seizures), the opening of a surgical assessment unit within the ED, and Nurse lead return clinics for ambulatory care patients which have improved the PET for this cohort of patients.
Tallaght hospital has an escalation framework in place to manage surge of activity in ED - this is based on the HSE/INMO escalation framework.
In relation to the care of frail older patients, there is a protocol in place in relation to the allocation and placement of over 75-year-old patients within nine hours of their presentation/registration in ED. A community geriatrician was appointed in late 2016 in conjunction with Community Health Organisation 7. This has enhanced the services to older person within the Tallaght Hospital catchment area.
In relation to the specific service issues raised in relation to the action the HSE has taken to address the recommendations of the 2011 HIQA report on Tallaght, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
