Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 May 2014
14. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the progress of the special delivery unit in tackling waiting times at University Hospital Galway and across the west-north west hospital group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21206/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Special Delivery Unit continues to support front line staff in our hospitals to make significant progress including at University Hospital Galway and all across the West North West Hospital Group, although significant challenges remain. The SDU can confirm that:
- Each site has a documented unscheduled care improvement plan which is continually reviewed and updated;
- Key areas of system performance have been identified and are being progressed;
- Each plan involves a ‘whole system’ approach, addressing review of referrals to the hospital, patient progress through the hospital and supports required to facilitate discharge; and
- The plans support the implementation of the National Clinical Programmes.
SDU officers regularly visit each hospital in this Group to ensure that appropriate performance improvement plans are being actively implemented. In respect of unscheduled care, the overall goal is to ensure that each hospital meets the Government access target for Hospital ‘Patient Experience Time’ (PET), which measures the time from arrival at the ED to departure. 95% of patients should have left the ED within 6 hours of arrival and 100% of patients should have departed within 9 hours of arrival. Nationally, 65% of patients are seen within the 6 hour target and 79% of patients within the 9 hour target. It should be noted that Mayo and Portiuncula Hospitals are among the highest performers in the country; in the latest national report Portiuncula was one of the only hospitals to meet the 9 hour target, with a 100% performance - which should be commended. The SDU also continues to work with the West North West Hospital Group to improve its management of inpatient and day case waiting lists.
Letterkenny General Hospital
Letterkenny has traditionally been amongst the best performing hospitals in the country in terms of ED waiting times. In large part due to extraordinary circumstances arising from the flooding Letterkenny's waiting times in ED have deteriorated.
The following commentary summarises the key information for each site, including PET times.
Table 1 – INMO Trolleys figures at 02/05/2014 – 30 Day Moving Average and Year to Date
|
Hospital |
30 DMA 2014 |
30DMA 2013 |
30 DMA % Change |
YTD 2014 |
YTD 2013 |
YTD % Change |
|
Galway |
15 |
17 |
-11.8% |
1361 |
1435 |
-5.2% |
|
Letterkenny |
11 |
5 |
120% |
671 |
297 |
125.9% |
|
Mayo |
9 |
11 |
-18.2% |
908 |
838 |
8.4% |
|
Portiuncula |
2 |
6 |
-66.7% |
290 |
543 |
-46.6% |
|
Sligo |
8 |
7 |
14.3% |
804 |
474 |
69.6% |
