HSE announces major improvements for 2006

The Health Service Executive has announced improvements at Accident and Emergency units at three Dublin hospitals.

The HSE said the average number of patients waiting daily for admission to hospitals from A & E units has fallen by 14% throughout the country since April.

The average number in Dublin has fallen by 20% in the same period.

The HSE has announced three initiatives aimed at further improvements early this year in Dublin, including a new A & E unit at St Vincents, a new 33-bed A & E admissions unit at the Mater and the redevelopment and extension of A & E facilities at St James's.

Director of the National Hospitals Office, Pat McLoughlin said the A & E improvements will make a difference and the new facilities will allow staff to separate the minor injuries from the major ones.

While he said the 70-80% of people in A & Es who don’t need admittance can be discharged at a faster rate.

He added that the new facilities and new improvements will mean major reductions in the numbers of people waiting for beds in 2006.