Health Committee to meet Minister Varadkar on A&E overcrowding

14 January 2015

Overcrowding in the Accident and Emergency Departments of hospitals nationwide will be on the agenda of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children when it meets tomorrow Thursday.

Minister for Health Leo Varadkar TD will be appearing before the Committee at 12:30 pm to answer questions on the steps being taken to reduce the numbers of patients waiting on trolleys. Tony O’Brien, Director General of the Health Service Executive, will also be in attendance.

Committee Vice-Chair Ciara Conway TD says: “The overcrowding crisis that has engulfed multiple A&E Departments around the country in the past weeks has caused considerable distress to patients and their families. The Committee looks forward to engaging constructively with Minister Varadkar and Mr O’Brien on the issue at Thursday’s meeting. With consensus that the situation is utterly unacceptable, Committee Members will be keen to explore what practical steps are required to curb the crisis.”

The meeting with the Minister on A&E overcrowding will be preceded by separate sessions on Coeliac Disease and Huntington’s Disease.

The timetable and witnesses scheduled for the meeting are as follows:

• 9:30 am: Developing a National Strategy for Coeliac Disease: Professor Nicholas Kennedy, Honorary President of the Coeliac Society of Ireland; Richelle Flanagan, Dietician; Dr Patrick Doorley, former member of the Strategy and Programmes Management Team, HSE; and Ms. Gráinne Denning, CEO of the Coeliac Society of Ireland
• 11:00 am: Coping with the challenges of Huntington’s Disease: Patricia Towey, Information and Services Coordinator, Huntingtons Disease Association of Ireland, Dr Niall Pender, Principal Clinical Neuropsychologist, Head of Department, Beaumont Hospital, Dr Tim Counihan, Consultant Neurologist, University Hospital Galway and Ms Ide Cussen
• 12:30 pm: Emergency Department Services: Minister for Health Leo Varadkar and Tony O’Brien, Director General of the HSE

Deputy Conway continues: “In what is a busy first meeting of 2015, the Committee will commence proceedings by examining how a national strategy for those with Coelic Disease might be developed and implemented. We will hear from representatives of the Coelic Society of Ireland, who have been providing information, support and awareness to Coeliacs throughout Ireland since 1970. Their mission is to improve the quality of life for Coeliacs and those who benefit from a gluten-free diet.”

“Our second session will focus on coping with the challenges of Huntington’s Disease (HD). The disease is a hereditary neurological disorder that causes brain cell degeneration leading to uncontrolled movements, emotional problems, and loss of thinking ability. There is no cure for the disease and full time care is required in the later stages of HD.  The Committee will explore how this challenge genetic illness can be managed with the Huntington’s Disease Association of Ireland and a range of neurological experts.”

The Committee sessions will start in Committee Room 2, Leinster House 2000 at 9:30 am on Thursday 15 January. Committee proceedings can be followed live here.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the move, through the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.

Media enquiries to:
Paul Hand,
Communications Unit,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
paul.hand@oireachtas.ie

Committee Membership:
Deputies: Jerry Buttimer (Chair), Catherine Byrne, Ciara Conway (Vice-Chair), Regina Doherty, Robert Dowds, Peter M Fitzpatrick, Seamus Healy, Billy Kelleher, Eamonn Maloney, Clare Daly, Sandra McLellan, Dan Neville, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin and Robert Troy
Senators: Colm Burke, John Crown, John Gilroy, Imelda Henry, Marc Mac Sharry and Jillian Van Turnhout