Minister pays tribute to healthcare staff for reduction in Emergency Department overcrowding over October bank holiday weekend
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From: Department of Health
- Published on: 30 October 2024
- Last updated on: 31 October 2024
34% less patients were waiting on Emergency Department (ED) trolleys at 8am over this October bank holiday weekend, when compared to the October bank holiday weekend in 2023. This was despite an increase of 4% of overall attendances, when compared to the same bank holiday period in 2023.
The number of patients discharged from acute hospitals increased by 28% over the same weekend in 2023. The increase in discharges on bank holiday Monday of 42% compared to last year was noted by the Minister.
This improved performance sustains the improvements achieved so far this year. There has been a significant reduction in the cumulative daily 8am trolley count year-to-date , with numbers down 12% (over 12,000) when compared to the same period in 2023.
This reduction has been achieved while the number of patients presenting to Emergency Departments has shown an 8% increase in overall attendances (97,000 patients) and a 12% increase in attendances for patients aged 75 years and older (over 19,000 patients), year to-date versus the same period in 2023.
Far less patients experienced long waits in Emergency Departments this year, with the overall number of patients, waiting more than 24 hours in Emergency Departments nationally falling by 8% (400 patients) and those aged 75 years and over, reducing by 12% (nearly 1,800 patients).
Minister Donnelly said:
"I want to thank the staff in Emergency Departments, and throughout hospital and community services who have worked tirelessly to improve ED performance and in so doing deliver more timely and better services to patients and their families.
"I am determined to make sure this momentum continues and to ensure all patients can access beds when they need them. We are making real progress in reducing emergency department overcrowding.
"While it is regrettable that any patient should wait on a trolley, it’s important to note that our Emergency Departments see up to 5,000 patients a day and that the majority of patients who need a bed, get one, and do not spend an extended period of time waiting on a trolley. This is happening while our health service is also experiencing a significant increase in demand for elective care."
There has been a significant increase in capacity under this government - with an additional 28,346 people working in our health service since the end of 2019 and 1,195 acute hospital beds as well as hundreds of additional community beds since the end of 2019.
Notes
The Minister for Health has worked intensively with the Health Service Executive (HSE) on reducing the number of patients on trolleys. He chairs monthly meetings with senior HSE figures to drive improved performance. Last year, Minister Donnelly asked the HSE to move away from seasonal winter planning and to recognise ED overcrowding as the year-round problem it had become. This resulted in the publication and execution of an Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC) Operational Plan with targeted actions and reform initiatives. The Minister acknowledges that high levels of congestion remain at several sites, therefore, continued support is crucial, and the consistent implementation of the reforms contained in the UEC Operational Plan are pivotal in driving this improvement.
Minister Donnelly also asked the HSE to publish clear and accessible data on EDs. The HSE now publishes a daily report listing trolley numbers at each hospital and provides a breakdown of patients waiting on trolleys in the ED and those waiting on trolleys in wards. As part of this report, the HSE also identifies the number of surge beds in use. These are beds that are taken from elsewhere in the hospital to meet ED demand. Access the HSE report.