Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 April 2019
171. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if a crisis response to the overcrowding in the emergency department of University Hospital Limerick including the reopening of all closed beds in the region will be sanctioned (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18150/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Emergency Department in University Hospital Limerick is one of the busiest in the country, with the number of patients attending growing year on year.
Limerick was identified as one of the 9 sites requiring additional investment, focus and support as part of this year's Winter Plan. The problem of overcrowding in hospitals requires a full system, patient focused response. Recognising this, in the Winter Plan, the HSE sought to maximise the use of existing resources across hospital groups and CHOs and to target additional investment at both hospital and community services and supports.
The range and prioritisation of measures was a matter for UHL and CHO Mid-West. Key measures included:
- additional home support packages and transitional care beds to support people to leave the hospital and return home
- extended opening hours in the AMAU;
- opening of a surgical short stay unit;
- additional access to diagnostics.
The NTPF has established a fund of €1m that will support the HSE Winter plans with a focus on increasing access to diagnostics in both private facilities and in-house. 6,050 vouchers had been issued to Emergency Departments for diagnostics as of 31 March 2019, including 1,050 vouchers issued to UHL.
It is widely agreed that a key part of the solution for Limerick is additional beds. Over the past 18 months, an additional 25 beds have opened in Limerick, including 8 as part of this year's Winter Plan.
A capital allocation of €2 million has been granted in recent weeks and the HSE advises that this will facilitate the completion of enabling works for the 60-bed modular ward in 2019.
In addition, the National Development Plan includes a 96-bed replacement ward block in Limerick and capital funding was provided in 2018 to progress the design phase of this project.
The performance and governance of services in UHL and in the region is a matter for the Hospital Group, CHO Midwest and the HSE. The performance of Hospital Groups and Community Health Organisation is considered by the HSE in line with the Performance and Accountability Framework, which provides for escalation and a range of actions.
I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to closed beds in the region and on the actions that are being taken to maximise the use of existing resources in UL Hospital Group and CHO 3 to reduce overcrowding.
