Réada Cronin
Question:171. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the detail of the winter plan of his Department for Naas General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50520/21]
View answerTuesday, 19 October 2021
Questions (171)
Written answers
Emergency department attendances have increased steadily since the relaxation of Covid 19 restrictions and in recent weeks have been in line with levels usually seen during the winter months. I am aware that more than 13,000 individuals have attended the emergency department in Naas this year and that over 3,800 of those required admittance to the hospital.
Through the 20/21 Winter Plan and budget ’21, the Government invested €1.2bn to fund significant initiatives across the health service in the acute, community care and primary care sectors. These initiatives aim to reduce demand on emergency care by, for example, providing additional bed capacity, alternative care pathways outside the acute sector and additional home support packages. The Government has maintained this level of investment in budget 2022 and has also allocated a further €22m, to enhance specific additional winter initiatives in 2022.
The HSE is to submit a plan to me which will ensure that the health service is prepared for the challenges of this winter, and which will reflect the substantial level of investment being committed to by Government. The plan will implement new ways of working, open additional capacity and continue to enhance infection prevention and control measures in healthcare facilities, thereby providing for the appropriate, safe and timely care for patients by ensuring, insofar as possible, that effective levels of capacity and resources are in place to meet the expected growth in activity levels.
When the Winter Plan for is finalised it will be an operational matter for the HSE to determine any specific measures and associated additional resources that may relate to Naas General Hospital.