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Hospital Overcrowding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 October 2019

Thursday, 10 October 2019

Questions (18)

Marc MacSharry

Question:

18. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to alleviate overcrowding in Sligo University Hospital in which the figures recorded in September 2019 were the worst recorded for September since an organisation (details supplied) commenced keeping records; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41230/19]

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Written answers

According to provisional HSE TrolleyGAR data, there was a 2.1% increase in patients counted waiting on trolleys at 8am in Sligo University Hospital ED for the year to date as of the end of September 2019 compared to the same period last year. In the month of September 2019, there were 305 patients counted on trolleys in Sligo, which was a 1% increase compared to the previous month.

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. My Department is engaging extensively with the HSE this year to identify mitigating actions to bring down trolley numbers and waiting times in the ED in the face of growing demand. 

Planning for winter 2019/20 has commenced and my Department is working with the HSE to finalise the Winter Plan in the coming weeks. Individual Community Healthcare Organisations (CHOs) and Hospital Groups are preparing Integrated Winter Plans that will focus on demand management and reduction, staffing availability, timely access to the most appropriate care pathway for patients as well as provide appropriate timely egress from acute hospitals. These Integrated Winter Plans will support the development of a single overarching strategic level Winter Plan for the HSE. 

The Integrated Winter Plan for Sligo University Hospital will be delivered by a Winter Action Team whose membership will include the CEO of the Saolta University Health Care Group, the Chief Officer of CHO 1, and the CEO of Sligo University Hospital. 

The Health Service Executive recently published its Capital Plan for 2019-2021 outlining projects to be progressed over the three-year period. The Capital Plan includes a new ward block development and additional bed capacity at Sligo University Hospital.

The HSE has advised that preliminary design work and site investigations have been carried out for this new development at Sligo University Hospital. Planning approval was granted in July 2019 and the project is currently at the detailed design stage.

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