Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 27 Jan 1999

Vol. 499 No. 1

Written Answers. - Accident and Emergency Services.

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

571 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health and Children the pattern of attendance at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, and Mater Hospital, Dublin 7, accident and emergency departments over the past 12 weeks; the average waiting period for medical attention; the average waiting period to be admitted to a bed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1645/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

The information requested by the Deputy regarding the pattern of attendances in the accident and emergencies departments at Beaumont and the Mater hospitals over the past 12 weeks is listed on the attached table.

I have had inquiries made of both hospitals regarding the average waiting period for medical attention and the average waiting period for admission to a bed for the same period and I have been furnished with the following information.

Beaumont Hospital authorities have advised me that the average waiting time for medical attention in the hospital's accident and emergencies department over the last 12 weeks is 3.1 hours, while the average waiting time from time of arrival to admission to a bed is 10.5 hours.

The Mater Hospital authorities have advised me that the average waiting time for medical attention in the hospital's accident and emergency department over the last 12 weeks varied from immediately to six hours, depending on the pressure of work at the time. They further stated that they are unable to determine the average waiting time from time of arrival to admission to a bed. However, they stated that they record on a weekly basis the average number of patients waiting over six hours for a bed and over the past 12 weeks this averaged out at 16.

Number of new attendances at Beaumont Hospital and Mater Hospital Accident and Emergency Departments over the last twelve weeks.

Week Ending	BeaumontHospital	MaterHospital
17 January 1999	771	850
10 January 1999	956	1,025
3 January 1999	1,055	1,113
27 December 1998	939	947
20 December 1998	970	1,007
13 December 1998	899	968
6 December 1998	912	974
29 November 1998	896	1,041
22 November 1998	831	1,026
15 November 1998	909	1,052
8 November 1998	1,001	957
1 November 1998	890	907