HSE bids to speed patients’ progress

AS part of an effort to tackle accident and emergency overcrowding, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has earmarked €6 million this year to speed patients’ progress through hospitals.

It will fund initiatives including spreading scheduled admissions over five days - contrary to the current practice of admitting patients at the weekend for surgery early in the week. It will also restrict the practice of admitting patients from outside Dublin to Dublin hospitals if surgery can be carried out in their area.

An additional €4.5m has been set aside for community intervention teams (CITs) with the aim of keeping patients who become ill in the community out of hospital. It will fast-track GP access to provision of basic care and social supports provided by home helps, nurses or a combination of both.