Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 June 2018
920. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the emergency department waiting times greater than 24 hours for persons over 75 years of age in 2018; if the targets were met; if not, the number of persons over 75 years of age who have had a wait of more than 24 hours in an emergency department in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25531/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra921. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons aged 75 years of age or over who experienced an emergency department waiting time of more than 24 hours in 2017 and to date in 2018; the hospital in which this occurred by month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25532/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra922. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if the HSE target of eliminating emergency department waiting times of greater than 24 hours for persons over 75 years of age was met for 2018; the number of persons over 75 years of age who have had to wait for more than 24 hours in an emergency department in 2018; the hospital in which the wait occurred in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25533/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 920 to 922, inclusive, together.
The HSE National Service Plan 2018 requires that no patient over 75 should be waiting more than 24 hours in an Emergency Department (ED).
Initial year-to-date HSE data for April (which is still to be fully validated by the HSE) indicates that at the end of April 2018 over 88% of patients over 75 presenting in ED's nationally met this target. This equates to a total of 6,166 patients who waited longer than 24 hours in this period.
The HSE data for 2017 shows a full year compliance with this target of 92.4%. To note in relation to the particular query raised, I have also asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly with the most recent validated figures.
HSE data in relation to Patient Experience Time (PET) for all patients and specifically those over 75 is publically available on the HSE website at the following address:
www.hse.ie/eng/services/publications/performancereports/
The Government is, and will continue to, provide increased resources to alleviate the pressure on EDs in the face of rising demand.
