Vol. 480 No. 2
210 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health whether he has satisfied himself with the services available to patients in casualty departments in Dublin; the proposals, if any, he is developing to improve such services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13990/97]
The acute hospital service in Dublin has encountered problems in the provision of accident and emergency services, particularly over the winter period in the past number of years. The cause of the problem is complex and the successful management of the accident and emergency difficulties involves tackling a number of areas including services for the elderly, services for the chronically disabled, and services provided by the acute hospitals which, when taken together, provide a comprehensive and integrated response.
In this regard, a series of measures have been put in place since 1995 to deal with the continuing demands being placed on the accident and emergency services in Dublin. These measures include the provision of additional staff and equipment in accident and emergency departments, additional convalescent beds for non-acute patients, and the development of GP services. The present position is that each accident and emergency hospital and the Eastern Health Board has been asked by my Department to put forward proposals to improve the service for the coming winter 1997-8. When these proposals are to hand, I will review the position in association with the Eastern Health Board which chairs a steering committee responsible for the co-ordination of the accident and emergency services in Dublin.
