Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 October 2021
103. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the recent increase in patients on trolleys at Galway University Hospital, a trend which is expected to continue through the winter due to staffing shortages; his plans to address these staffing shortages and capacity requirements in the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50615/21]
View answerI am aware that high numbers of ED patients were reported waiting on trolleys for admission in Galway University Hospital in September, with significant congestion in the ED due to high attendances, low patient discharges in the hospital, and a significant number of beds blocked for infection prevention and control measures. I acknowledge the distress that overcrowded Emergency Departments cause to patients, their families, and to frontline staff working in very challenging conditions in hospitals throughout the country.
There are a number of positive developments in train at University Hospital Galway. In the short term site works on the temporary ED project commenced in May 2021. The phased handover of the temporary ED is expected in early 2022. This temporary extension to the Emergency Department will provide additional accommodation, pending the development of a permanent extension to the emergency department.
Building works commenced in September 2021 to facilitate the replacement MRI machine. Equipment is due to be installed in mid-November which will be followed by 6 weeks of commissioning. The machine is due to be operational end of December/early January 2022.
Building works have also commenced on the cardiothoracic ward in UHG. This will provide 12 cardiothoracic beds. Works are scheduled for completion in Q2 2022.
In the medium term, building works commenced on the new Radiation Oncology unit in September 2020 and are scheduled for completion in Q4 2022. This development will include out-patient suites, This facility will provide increased capacity with four new linear accelerators and the capacity to increase to five. It will also include other diagnostic equipment including a Radiotherapy CT scanner, a Radiotherapy MRI scanner; a superficial treatment unit, a HDR brachytherapy unit and a planning system.
The proposed permanent ED is key to addressing current suboptimal accommodation and associated risk issues and will be configured in a way that provides maximum opportunity to address the anticipated elements of future emergency medicine provision.
It is intended to provide the Emergency department accommodation at ground and first floor levels with the Women’s and Children department occupying the upper four floors. A small part of the existing ED will remain which will be refurbished and form part of the overall new ED.
A new elective Hospital in Galway is envisioned as part of proposals being developed by Slaintecare.
In relation to service development and winter preparedness the Government provided a significant investment of €1.2bn this year to expand capacity, increases services and support reform and this level of investment is being maintained in 2022. An additional €22m is also being allocated for additional winter initiatives in 2022.
Additional funding was also provided in the Budget for 2022 to continue expanding the workforce. It is estimated that the whole-time equivalents (WTE) will exceed 141,000 by the end of 2022.
