Maurice Quinlivan
Question:383. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health the number of emergency department attendances at University Hospital Limerick by month to date in 2018, in tabular form. [52927/18]
View answerTuesday, 18 December 2018
Questions (383)
Written answers
I acknowledge the distress overcrowded EDs cause to patients, their families, and frontline staff working in very challenging working conditions in hospitals throughout the country. This year has been characterised by high demand for unscheduled care, particularly among the over-75 age group, which was further exacerbated by Storm Emma and the extended influenza season earlier this year.
My Department has been working with the HSE throughout the year to ensure the most effective response to the pressures on our hospital system associated with the winter period. The Winter Plan runs from 1 December 2018 until 31 March 2019 and includes a period of focused action from 17 December to 13 January targeting 9 sites of concern. These sites have been identified on the basis of pressures experienced in previous winters and include University Hospital Limerick.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.