Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

409. To ask the Minister for Health if the Health Information and Quality Authority have reported on the conditions of elderly and sick persons left on trolleys in hospitals; if so, the outcome of this report and the recommendations made to solve this unacceptable practice in respect of the most vulnerable people in society; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10257/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Government regards the situation in Emergency Departments as unacceptable and acknowledges the difficulties that overcrowding in EDs causes for patients, their families and for the staff who are doing their utmost to provide safe, quality care in very challenging circumstances. All hospitals have escalation plans to manage not only patient flow but also patient safety in a responsive, controlled and planned way that supports and ensures the delivery of optimum patient care. The Government has provided additional funding of €3 million in 2014 and €25 million in 2015 to address delayed discharges and the HSE is currently finalising an action plan under the auspices of the ED Taskforce with a view to a significant reduction in trolley waits over the course of 2015.

The Health Information and Quality Authority has not published a specific report on the conditions of elderly and sick persons left on trolleys in hospitals; however the Authority has published a number of reports which have identified concerns and issues surrounding the use of hospital trolleys, and has made recommendations in respect of this. The recommendations contained in these reports are relevant across the hospital sector.

As the service provider, the HSE is responsible and accountable for ensuring that the appropriate arrangements are in place to ensure a safe quality service for patients. The HSE advises that the implementation of the recommendations of the HIQA Tallaght Report of 2012 is ongoing, with many of the recommendations now incorporated into the hospital governance, leadership, management and clinical processes. The ongoing implementation of this report also takes account of the recommendations of the Mallow & Ennis HIQA reports, relevant legislation & regulation and the HSE National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare.