Health | To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which he has identified the ten most-regularly overcrowded accident and emergency departments throughout the country

To ask the Minister for Health the extent to which he has identified the ten most-regularly overcrowded accident and emergency departments throughout the country; the measures that are being put in place to deal with the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

I acknowledge the distress overcrowded Emergency Departments cause to patients, their families, and staff throughout the country. I am committed to improving emergency services for all.

The Government invested an additional €1.1bn in budget 2021 to expand capacity, increases services and support reform. We maintained this level of investment in budget 2022. The Government invested a further €77 million in the 2021/22 Winter Plan. The Plan focused on addressing the causes of long waits in the ED.

In relation to question of the ten most-regularly overcrowded EDs, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.