Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 July 2023
737. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will publish the figures he relied on when speaking on a radio station (details supplied) when he stated that trolley numbers were down at UHL while comparing trolley numbers at the same period in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33756/23]
View answerOn my recent visit to the University of Limerick Hospital Group, I mentioned that according to the HSE's TrolleyGAR figures, there were 2,697 patients counted on trolleys at 8am between January and May 2023 (inclusive). This represents a decrease of 22.7% compared to the same period in 2019.
TrolleyGAR figures are published by the HSE three times a day, and although both the HSE’s TrolleyGAR and the INMO’s Trolley Watch systems provide daily reports on the number of patients treated on trolleys in our acute hospitals, there are notable differences between the two.
The HSE’s TrolleyGAR is a count at a given point in time of all Emergency Department (ED) patients waiting in an inappropriate bed space after a decision to admit as an inpatient has been made. The definition of an appropriate bed space agreed between the HSE and the INMO is that it must have a bed, curtains, access to bathroom facilities, access to oxygen and suction facilities, a named consultant and nursing team assigned, and the patient is on a documented pathway of care. As such, TrolleyGAR includes patients waiting on trolleys in the ED and in wards but does not include patients in designated surge capacity beds.
The INMO Trolley Watch is a count of the number of patients on beds, trolleys, or chairs, or on inpatient wards/units above the stated complement of that ward/unit. This includes inpatient beds being used as surge beds at a given time for instance.
Under the Health Act 2004 and the subsequent Health Service Executive Governance Act (2013 and 2019), the HSE is accountable to the Minister for Health. This allows Department officials, on the Minister’s behalf, to interrogate and report on the data provided by the HSE. My Department works closely with the HSE to examine trolley trends, and the question of ED congestion and performance is under constant review by my Department and the HSE. On the other hand, the INMO is a representative body and, as such, my Department has no role in its governance.
