Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 15 Dec 1999

Vol. 512 No. 7

Written Answers. - Accident and Emergency Services.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

181 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has satisfied himself with the planned level of cover available at accident and emergency departments over the millennium weekend in view of the comments of the chairman of the accident and emergency consultants association (details supplied). [27327/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

At any time the levels of attendance at accident and emergency departments of acute hospitals are complex and difficult to predict with any degree of accuracy and in this regard all accident and emergency departments experience periods of exceptional demand. Although delays are unavoidable during such periods appropriate medical treatment is provided at all times.

It is the responsibility of each health agency to ensure that adequate arrangements are in place to meet any additional demand for health services, including accident and emergency services, over the millennium period.

The overall strategy being employed by health boards over the millennium period is to provide appropriate levels of services at primary care and community care level and thereby avoid unnecessary demands on the accident and emergency departments.

Acute hospitals providing accident and emergency services across all health board areas are prepared for a significant increase in demand for accident and emergency services over the millennium period. A range of measures aimed at meeting the anticipated increase in demand for accident and emergency services will be introduced by hospitals. These may be summarised as follows: the cancellation of elective admissions over the Christmas-millennium period thereby ensuring that adequate acute beds are available if required for emergency admissions from accident and emergency departments; minor injuries clinics located beside, or adjacent to the accident and emergency departments of major acute hospitals where demand is expected to be highest will be provided to supplement the accident and emergency departments. These clinics, which will be staffed by appropriate trained staff, will deal with all persons presenting with minor injuries and will free-up accident and emergency departments for real emergencies.

A national public education campaign, national press and television, aimed at increasing general awareness regarding the appropriate use of accident and emergency departments with particular emphasis on persuading persons with minor ailments to attend their general practitioner rather than the accident and emergency department of an acute hospital will shortly be launched by the accident and emergency steering group of the Eastern Health Board. Elsewhere similar campaigns will be launched at area health board level in local newspapers and local radio.

I am satisfied that the arrangements which health agencies will have in place, including staffing arrangements, will be adequate to meet the anticipated increase in demand for services.