John Brady
Ceist:1304. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health the number of beds in use at Portiuncula University Hospital, Ballinasloe, County Galway. [32536/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 23 July 2019
Ceisteanna (1304)
Freagraí scríofa
The number of patients attending Emergency Departments continues to increase year on year, with attendances in 2018 up by 3.5% on 2017. This reflects increasing demand for unscheduled care, especially by patients in the 75 and over age group.
The hospital system is currently operating at close to full capacity.
I am also conscious that waiting times are often unacceptably long and of the burden that this places on patients and their families. In this regard, the Government is committed to improving waiting times for hospital appointments and procedures. The NTPF advise that over recent months they have placed a particular focus on engaging with hospital groups and individual hospitals to identify outpatient waiting list proposals.
With specific regard to the number of beds occupied at Portiuncula Hospital, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy with this information directly.