Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 September 2026
718. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health her plans to tackle overcrowding in the emergency department at St. Vincent's University Hospital; and if she has commissioned research on the specific impact of overcrowding on patients with moderate, as opposed to urgent and acute, disease or injury seeking emergency treatment, across the country with a view to ensuring better outcomes for such patients. [68265/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to assure the deputy that every measure is being taken to ensure that overcrowding is kept to a minimum in St Vincent’s University Hospital and all our hospitals.
The UEC Operational Plan is currently in operation, and one of the 4 pillars of the plan is hospital avoidance. This focuses on supporting patients in settings other than the Emergency Department and avoiding the need for inpatient care.
Amongst the initiatives involved in the plan are:
• Vaccine Preventable Illness, promote uptake of Influenza, Measles and COVID-19 vaccinations to improve compliance for all target groups including Healthcare Workers Specialist Care in the Community
• Community Specialist Teams (CSTs) for Chronic Disease Management.
• GP Out of Hours Work with GP Out of Hours Services to maintain/increase GP OOH contacts and reduce the level of GP OOH referrals to EDs
• NAS Care Pathways Maximise usage of existing NAS alternative care pathways
• Injury Units to provide a 7-day service, 8am to 8pm including Bank Holidays
Vaccination, good hand hygiene, and appropriate cough and sneeze etiquette remain important measures to help prevent the spread of infection and reduce pressure on Emergency Departments. Mask wearing can also provide additional protection, particularly when disease incidence is high, and individuals who choose to wear one should be supported in doing so.
Timely discharge is critical to maintaining patient flow and the efficient and effective utilisation of inpatient resources, as well as ensuring patients clinically fit for discharge are in appropriate settings for their healthcare. We are investing in enhanced discharge planning, community supports, and step-down facilities to ensure patients can leave acute hospital settings safely and promptly.
The National Inpatient Experience Survey is part of the National Care Experience Programme (NCEP), a shared initiative between the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), the Health Service Executive (HSE), the Mental Health Commission and the Department of Health.
The NCEP seeks to improve the quality of health and social care services in Ireland by asking people about their experiences of care and acting on their feedback. The seventh National Inpatient Experience Survey took place in 2026. People who spent more than 24 hours in hospital and were discharged during the month of May received an invitation to take part in the survey, to share their experiences of hospital care. It is expected that the findings of the survey will be published at the end of 2026. Further details can be found at https://yourexperience.ie/
As this PQ refers to St Vincent's University Hospital specifically I am referring it to the HSE for an operational answer.
