Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 April 2018
47. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which he is satisfied that issues affecting long waiting lists in public hospitals, overcrowding at accident and emergency services and other contributory factors affecting the fast, efficient and effective delivery of public health services are fully addressed or are in the course of so being; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17024/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis Government is committed to tackling the key challenges our health system faces in relation to hospital overcrowding and long waiting times for treatment.
Against a background of growing demand for hospital services care and high acute hospital occupancy rates, Government provided €30 million in 2017 and a further €40 million in 2018 for measures to increase acute hospital capacity and alleviate overcrowding in Emergency Departments (EDs). Reflecting the focus on reducing patient waiting times, the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) allocation was increased to €55m this year, including administrative costs of €5m. That is more than double its 2017 allocation of €20m.
Notwithstanding increased investment, this winter has been particularly difficult for our health services, with ED attendances up 3.7%, admissions up 3.3% and trolleys up 13.1% during the first quarter of the year, as compared with the same period in 2017. This situation was further exacerbated by the severe weather that followed Storm Emma, which led to approval of a further €5m in emergency funding for extra home support packages and transitional care beds to assist the safe discharge of patients who required support to return home following the adverse weather.
The recently launched Inpatient/Day Case Action Plan for 2018 projects a reduction in the number of patients waiting for treatment to below 70,000 by year end - from a peak of 86,100 in July 2017. To achieve this, the NTPF will arrange treatment for 20,000 patients, while the HSE will deliver 1.14 million inpatient or day case procedures. I am committed to building on this progress in 2019 and further reducing waiting time for Irish patients.
In the light of the Health Service Capacity Review conclusion that the system will need nearly 2,600 additional acute hospital beds by 2031, I have asked my Department to work with the HSE to identify the location and mix of beds across the hospital system which can be opened and staffed this year and into 2019 in order to improve preparedness for Winter 2018/2019.
Finally, a review of the Winter Initiative 2017/2018 is being undertaken, which will inform a 3 year plan for unscheduled care, as well as supporting the provision of additional capacity in Winter 2018/19.
