Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 January 2019
153. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health the methodology for calculating the trolleyGAR statistics on patients waiting in casualty for admission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2129/19]
View answer154. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health if patients waiting on corridors or in extra beds in wards are considered as part of the trolleyGAR statistics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2130/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 154 together.
I wish to acknowledge the distress overcrowded EDs cause to patients, their families, and frontline staff working in very challenging working conditions in hospitals throughout the country. Hospitals are increasingly operating at or above capacity, with year-round demand pressures that are further challenged over the winter months.
Key actions are now underway, as part of the Winter Plan, to support hospitals during this period of peak demand to include: the opening of additional beds, the use of private hospital capacity, frailty intervention teams in EDs, additional homecare packages and transitional care beds, and additional diagnostics in hospitals and for GPs.
In relation to the particular query about the HSE TrolleyGAR count methodology, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
