Accident and emergency capacity
Opposition Senators say no progress has been made in overcrowded emergency departments. The Leader outlines additional winter beds and transitional-care capacity and agrees to seek a Health Minister debate.
No progress has been made on accident and emergency services.
Comment on this
These provide a mix of rehabilitation and transitional care for patients who require assisted convalescent care before returning home or entering long-term care. Additional funding of €18 million was provided in July for a winter initiative that will include the provision of approximately 300 additional hospital beds in November and December this month and next month. The first of these are being opened. For example, the Leben building in the University of Limerick opened yesterday. A further 137 beds, which were closed for refurbishment for infection-control purposes in 2015, are to be reopened by the end of this month. Some 34 have already been reopened.
The director general of the Health Service Executive, who is co-chairing the emergency department task force implementation group from now until March 2016, has taken the decision to take over this himself to ensure all relevant parts of the health services, including acute and social and primary care services, are optimising resources to deal with the challenges outlined by several Members. The task force held its most recent meeting yesterday. It reviewed progress on the implementation recommendations of the task force action plan. As I stated, significant progress has been made over recent months. Admittedly, there are problems, but everything possible is being done by the Minister to address them.
I am not accepting the amendment to the Order of Business but I will ask the Minister for Health, Deputy Varadkar, to come to the House soon to address the issue of accident and emergency services.
Comment on this
The Minister was present for a Commencement debate earlier this morning and he is to be here for a couple of hours to discuss the Medical Practitioners (Amendment) Bill today. Let us be fair about it. I will certainly ask the Minister to come in, and I am sure he will accede to that request in early course, but the debate cannot be held today.
Senators Bacik, Noone and Mullins extended their sympathy to Gillian and Ronan Treacy, the parents of the young boy, Ciarán, who was killed tragically in a road accident. This highlights what Senators have said, namely, that drink driving is just not acceptable. I will not comment on sentencing in regard to the tragic event, but Senators have commented on the judge, who dealt with the family very sympathetically, as he should. Members have asked for a debate on sentencing previously. I have tried to have such a debate and I hope we can have it soon with the Minister for Justice and Equality. Given the number of justice Bills that will be taken in the House over the coming weeks, we will have the opportunity.
Senator Bacik referred to the report of Mr. Justice Reilly, the Inspector of Prisons. Senator Paul Coghlan also referred to it. I will certainly endeavour to have a debate on the report in early course.
Senators Barrett and Mullins congratulated Congressman Paul Ryan on his election as Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Senators Barrett and Brennan congratulated the Irish men's hockey team on their qualification for the Olympic Games. As has been mentioned, it is more than 100 years since an Irish hockey team qualified for the Olympic Games. We wish the team every success in its endeavours.
Senator Naughton raised the matter of the injection rooms proposed for Galway and the need for greater consultation with the community and all involved there. While the Senator certainly recognises it is better to have properly supervised areas for injecting, she believes there is a need for consultation.
Senator Quinn raised the question of absenteeism and urged that the Government examine the UK system. In many workplaces, even in the public service, one must have a sick certificate if one is missing for two days. Whether doctors give certificates to their patients is another question but I do not believe doctors go out of their way to give certificates if people are not sick. It may have happened in the past but doctors have got the message in this regard.
Senator Landy referred to the current problems in the National Library of Ireland, which were highlighted on radio programmes this morning. I am confident that the Minister will take action to ensure adequate funding will be put in place for the library. I understand she will make an announcement to that effect soon.
Senator Comiskey highlighted an anomaly in road tax rates that apply to heavy goods vehicles. He pointed out that people who are taxing such vehicles for three months are not allowed to pay the new rate for January. It is something he should table for a Commencement debate or raise with the Minister, Deputy Donohoe.
Senator Colm Burke called for the reform and restructure of accident and emergency departments nationwide and Senator MacSharry said that the general management of hospitals should be reviewed. This is the same theme again.
Senators MacSharry, Wilson, Mullins and Ó Domhnaill spoke about Bank of Ireland's proposal to prohibit lodgments of less than €700 in cash. I have spoken about this previously. I think the banks have lost the run of themselves altogether.
