Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 January 2019
149. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of patients aged 75 years of age or over that experienced an emergency department wait time more than 24 hours in 2018; and the hospitals in which the wait occurred. [3436/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to acknowledge the distress overcrowded Emergency Departments (EDs) cause to patients, their families and frontline staff working in very challenging working conditions in hospitals throughout the country.
The hospital system is currently operating at close to full capacity. The number of patients attending Emergency Departments continues to increase year on year, with approximately 1.3 million attendances in 2018, up 3.5% on 2017. This reflects increasing demand for unscheduled care, especially by patients in the 75 years and over age group. Patients in this age group are the highest users of most health and social care services, have more complex needs and longer stays in our acute hospitals.
However, the National Service Plan 2018 includes an expected activity target that 100% of patients aged 75 and over are discharged or admitted within 24 hours of registration. Therefore, any breach of this target in respect of patients in this age cohort is unacceptable.
With regard to the specific question the Deputy has asked, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly.
