Mar a dúirt an Cathaoirleach Gníomhach, táim ag iarraidh ábhar a ardú, is é sin, an gá le hionad gortuithe beaga do dhaoine i nGaillimh. Le tamall fada, táim den tuairim gur cheart go mbeadh ionad mar seo againn i nGaillimh. I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House to discuss this issue. It has long been a contention of mine and, indeed, many others that Galway city and the wider region need, and would benefit from, a minor injuries unit. This unit should be located somewhere in the environs of Galway city. In February the HSE capital plan 2026 was published and the page detailing potential expenditure and infrastructural development in Galway noted a figure of €84,000 for the appraisal of a Galway injuries unit. I thought this was very welcome and I was hopeful there would be some progress on the issue. I was somewhat taken aback recently, following a parliamentary question in which I asked for an update on the development of this appraisal of a minor injuries unit in Galway, when the Minister, in her response, advised me that the HSE had advised her there was no plan to establish a new unit in Galway at this time. The reply stated the national injury unit expansion programme prioritises locations based on population need, geographical gaps and clinical safety considerations. On all of these issues, Galway would tick the box. If we take geographical gaps, there is one minor injuries unit in the entire HSE West and North West health area while there are three in County Cork alone. There is a clear geographical gap there. With regard to population need, Galway city is a significant population centre. To consider equivalent population centres, Limerick has a minor injuries unit, there are three in Cork and there are two in Dublin. On a population base, a unit in Galway is warranted. The area the appraisal needs to focus on is clinical safety consideration. The emergency department at University Hospital Galway is consistently under considerable pressure. I happened to be there on Monday night with a family member and the only way I can describe it is that there was limited standing room in the waiting area, such was the demand for people to be seen. For the third time this year, which I understand is an increase on previous years, management in the hospital has had to advise the public that, due to exceptionally high emergency demand, elective procedures have been postponed and urgent and time-sensitive procedures are being prioritised. Management of the hospital advising the public that elective or non-urgent procedures are being cancelled due to demand at Galway emergency department is becoming more frequent. If we were to develop a minor injuries unit in the city, it would relieve some of this demand. To look at data presented by the HSE this morning, there are 47 patients in the country waiting more than 24 hours in emergency departments throughout the country and nine of them are in Galway. This means 20% of the patients in this country who spent more than 24 hours in an emergency department over the past day or so are in Galway. There are considerable pressures on the emergency department in Galway. I know some of this is about increasing bed capacity in the hospital and there are plans to do that but it would be assisted if we developed a minor injuries unit, for which an allocation of funding for its appraisal was provided earlier this year. As I said, I visited the UHG on Monday night. I am not a doctor and I do not diagnose but, looking at some of the people waiting for treatment, I could see that a number had sports injuries. Had they the option to attend a minor injuries clinic, it would have freed up greater capacity in the emergency department and people would have had to spend less time there. I ask that the Minister consider this again.

Sentiment score: -0.03

I very much welcome the response. I particularly welcome the clarity it brings, in that the Minister of State said consideration is being given to the feasibility of the development of a minor injury unit in Galway. If I had not received a response from the Minister just last week advising me there were no current plans to establish a new unit in Galway at this time, I would not have been here this morning. There is clearly a discrepancy there. I can understand that occurs, but what concerns me also is that this discrepancy might also suggest the minor injury unit is not being afforded the importance and priority it should be as afforded as a health solution to address one of the significant problems we have in Galway, that being the delays in accident and emergency services. If we could develop this unit and drive this project in a quicker timeframe, it would help to alleviate some of the problems in accident and emergency services. I understand, as I said, that the greater solution to this problem in Galway is increased bed capacity. We are not going to see that for some time, but I welcome the appointment of a design team to develop two new bed blocks at University Hospital Galway. The team has commenced its work and we hope it will bring a proposal to the planning stage soon. We also hope the project will be included as a piece of critical infrastructure, and that the Government will consider that. In the intervening period, however, there is a need to address the issue of people waiting long periods, many for over 24 hours, in a temporary accident and emergency facility at University Hospital Galway. While it is an improvement on the previous facility, it is considered temporary. When we have the new additional bed blocks in the new hospital, perhaps we will be able to increase capacity there. In the intervening period, a minor injury unit would help a lot. I welcome the clarity today that it is being considered. I am happy with the Minister of State's advice and I will take this issue up with local health officials. In fairness to them, they give public representatives opportunities to meet them quarterly to discuss capital projects. The next time I meet them, I will certainly stress that this project is particularly important for the city, county and region.

Sentiment score: 0.15