Ambulance delays at Wexford General
Mick Wallace highlights four ambulances queuing outside Wexford General Hospital because staff could not receive patients and asks about health reform legislation. The Taoiseach attributes such blockages partly to hospital management and promises to relay his concerns.
When will the heads of the health reform Bill be published? A great many reforms are required in the health sector.
On Tuesday last week outside Wexford General Hospital four ambulances were queueing to deliver patients but there were not enough staff in the hospital at the time to take in the patients. There are only five ambulances in the county. Surely the scenario of four of them queueing to deliver patients and not enough staff in the hospital to take them is unacceptable.
Comment on this
The health reform Bill is a major piece of work that the Minister is looking at. There are several blockages in the system in respect of patients being taken in. This is about hospital management, as Deputy Wallace is well aware. Over the coming period the new Minister for Health will report on the progress of the health reform Bill and perhaps bring the committee up-to-date. Deputy Wallace could inquire by way of a Topical Issue or a question in the House. I will advise the Minister of Deputy Wallace's interest in the question.