Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 April 2004
23 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans and programmes that he has in place to tackle the ongoing accident and emergency crisis in our hospitals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10855/04]
Amharc ar fhreagra154 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason for the continued overcrowding in hospitals with particular reference to accident and emergency congestion; his plans to resolve the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11074/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 154 together.
Several initiatives are under way to deal with pressures in emergency medicine departments: planning for the discharge of patients by acute hospitals and the liaison with the community services has been prioritised on an ongoing basis by the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards. I have provided an additional €8.8 million to the EHRA and €3.8 million to the Southern Health Board to facilitate the discharge of patients from the acute system to a more appropriate setting thereby freeing up acute beds.
A report entitled Acute Hospital Bed Capacity — A National Review, carried out by my Department, identified a requirement for an additional 3,000 acute beds in acute hospitals by 2011 and this is reflected in the Government's health strategy, Quality and Fairness — A Health System for You. Some 584 of the 709 beds in the first phase have been commissioned to date. The ERHA continues to work closely with the major acute hospitals in Dublin with a view to reopening acute beds which were temporarily closed last year. As part of the winter initiative, an additional 20 emergency medicine consultants have been appointed from the 29 approved. Additional appointments are being progressed by the health boards and the ERHA and the number of emergency medicine consultants in the eastern region has increased from ten to 21 in the last five years. A review of the nurse staffing levels in emergency departments is also being progressed by the Health Services Employers Agency in consultation with the health service management representatives and the nursing unions. Emergency medicine departments may sometimes have to deal with injuries and conditions which are more appropriate to a primary care setting. General practitioner out-of-hours co-operatives have been established and are operating in at least part of all health board areas, with one, the North Eastern Health Board, having a region wide project. A total of €46.5 million has been allocated for the development of out-of-hours co-operatives between 1997 and 2003. I will continue to work with the various health agencies in looking for short and long-term solutions to the current difficulties.
