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Emergency Departments

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 May 2018

Tuesday, 29 May 2018

Ceisteanna (66)

Jack Chambers

Ceist:

66. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the reason for the substantial increase in overcrowding in Connolly Hospital emergency department over the first four months of 2018 relative to the same period in 2017. [23530/18]

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Freagraí scríofa

In the context of a difficult winter for our health services, further compounded by Storm Emma, the first four months of the year saw a  higher level of trolleys nationally, up 13.9%, as compared to the same period in 2017. This increase reflects a rise in demand for unscheduled care across the hospital system, characterised by increased attendances and admissions, in particular, of those in the over 75 age group.   

In relation to Connolly Hospital, there was a sharp increase of 148.9% in trolley numbers between January and April 2018, compared to the same period last year.  This increase was in the context of a 5.8% rise in Emergency Department (ED) attendances and an 0.5% rise in admissions  at the site in the first four months of the year.  

Despite marginal increases in admissions since the start of 2018, the HSE has indicated that Connolly Hospital has been operating significantly above capacity, with a high level of delayed discharges for a Model 3 site and high levels of surge capacity in use on a continuous basis. Length of stay data supports the premise that the site has been operating above capacity for an extended period, with overall medical length of stays at 8.4 days and overall surgical length of stays at 4.5 days between 1 January 2018 and 28 February 2018.  

At the end of 2017, the hospital had significantly increased outturns in ED attendances and admissions and high occupancy levels.   According to the HSE, these factors impacted significantly on hospital performance this year, characterised by high levels of surge in use and slow patient flow, as reflected by poor patient experience times.   It is worth noting that occupancy levels in Connolly Hospital in January 2018 were particularly high at 116.9%.

Against this background, and in light of the conclusions of the Health Service Capacity Review 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.

The Government has approved a record level of capital investment in health at €10.9 billion over the next 10 years. This will provide for a major enhancement of the capacity of our health services to meet demand. 

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

Question No. 67 answered with Question No. 60.
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