Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 November 2018
183. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of persons attending accident and emergency departments on an annual basis from 2013 to 2017 and to date in 2018, at hospitals (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48611/18]
View answerI wish to acknowledge the distress overcrowded Emergency Departments (EDs) cause to patients, their families and frontline staff working in very challenging working conditions in hospitals throughout the country.
This Government remains committed to tackling overcrowding in EDs and improving access to health services. My Department is working with the HSE to ensure the most effective response to the winter challenges to unscheduled care provision and I expect to be in a position to outline the full details of the Winter Plan 2018/19 very shortly.
In relation to the particular query on the numbers of ED attendances in the RCSI Hospital Group annually from 2013 to date in 2018, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
