Michael Bell
Ceist:102 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Health and Children if he is considering the drafting in of GPs to ease the pressure on casualty departments of large hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9905/00]
Written Answers. - Hospital Services.
The Deputy may wish to note that at St. James's and St. Vincent's hospitals an attending general practitioner is a feature in the provision of accident and emergency services at these hospitals. The extension of the use of general practitioners to work in conjunction with accident and emergency departments in other hospitals will be considered based on an evaluation of the pilot schemes already in place.
In addition, a number of initiatives are under way in the general practice area to address the out of hours situation, with reducing the demand on accident and emergency departments by the provision of appropriate general practitioner services as one of their objectives.
My Department has provided significant additional funding for the enhancement of services in accident and emergency departments including additional funding of £2 million provided in 1999 for accident and emergency services in major acute hospitals, including those in paediatric hospitals. This extra revenue was used to fund measures to free up beds for emergency admissions and, where appropriate, allowed for the provision of enhanced staffing levels, the development of rapid diagnostic systems for common emergency presentations, continued development of treatment-observation areas in accident and emergency departments and an improved access for general practitioners to urgent specialist opinion.
My Department provided a further £2 million of extra funding to hospitals in 2000 to enable them to implement measures aimed at reducing pressure on their accident and emergency departments. These measures include minor capital works to improve accident and emergency facilities, new equipment and enhanced non-consultant hospital doctor, nursing and clerical staffing levels.
In addition my Department has funded a comprehensive action plan aimed at providing an additional 235 step-down places for patients who have finished the acute phase of their treatment and require a level of care more appropriate to their needs. Ninety five of these are to be pro vided on the campuses of acute hospitals with a further 140 sourced from private nursing homes.
By the end of December 1999, 195 of the beds had been provided and the balance of 40 will be in place in the near future. Additional funding of £5 million has been provided in 2000 to continue this bed resource. Part of the extra funding was allocated to another national public education campaign to increase general awareness regarding the appropriate use of accident and emergency departments.