Martin Heydon
Question:41. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to overcrowding at Naas General Hospital; and the supports being provided to help alleviate same. [41370/19]
View answerThursday, 10 October 2019
Questions (41)
Written answers
According to provisional HSE TrolleyGAR data, there was a 2.8% decrease in patients counted waiting on trolleys at 8am in Naas General 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 395 patients counted on trolleys in Naas, which was a 25.8% decrease compared to August 2019.
My Department is engaging extensively with the HSE this year to identify mitigating actions across the health service 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, and appropriate timely discharge 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 Naas General Hospital will be delivered by a Winter Action Team which will include the CEO of the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group and the Chief Officer of CHO 7.
The Health Service Capacity Review published last year highlighted the need for a major investment in additional capacity, and an additional 8 beds opened in Naas General Hospital in December 2017 as part of the Winter Initiative 2017/2018.