Tallaght Hospital shows reductions in waiting times in key areas of hospital care

Tallaght Hospital shows reductions in waiting times in key areas of hospital care

By Maurice Garvey

TALLAGHT Hospital’s annual report shows significant reductions in waiting times across a variety of key services, including stroke and endoscopy.

The publication also states that revenue allocation increased by €10.2 million in 2015 – representing a 5.7 per cent increase compared to 2014.

Tallaght hospital cropped to size

The hospital received €10.9m in once-off supplementary funding in 2015, while the financial performance of the hospital in 2015 demonstrated a deficit of €700,000.

The cumulative deficit by December 31, 2015 was €14.7m – whilst net expenditure increased by 5.5 per cent to €9.9m.

Improvements in waiting times have been welcomed by management as evidence of improving standards at the hospital while acknowledging further improvements in access times are required.

The publication highlights the average length of stay for stroke victims fell to a two-year low, and Tallaght Hospital retains one of the lowest mortality rates for stroke victims in the country.

In addition, waiting times for patients requiring endoscopies decreased by 46 per cent, leading to increased access to urgent endoscopy where required.

In other areas, the opening of the expanded floor space in the Emergency Department has improved Patient Experience Time to its best level for months and delayed discharges have dropped to a three-year low of 23 patients.

The report found Tallaght Hospital is one of the best performing Irish hospitals in terms of income collection, with total private patient debt outstanding below 100 equivalent debtor days.

By the end of 2014, the age of private in-patient debt in hospitals awaiting consultant action was below 30 days in Tallaght Hospital, compared to a national average of 58 days.

Chairman Michael Scanlon welcomed the report, which recognises the “excellent work being done on a daily basis by staff.”

He said numbers attending ED grew in 2015 by two per cent, and there was an even greater increase (eight per cent) in the first six months of 2016.

He acknowledged the need for further investment to keep pace with the “ever-growing demand for our services.”

David Slevin, CEO, Tallaght Hospital said the report “highlights the good work that has been ongoing in Tallaght Hospital over the past year.”

Mr Slevin said: “Our staff are committed to providing the best outcomes for patients and I welcome the continuing improvement in waiting times.

“All hospitals are under pressure with a growing population and it is important that we respond to the challenges of an increasingly older patient demographic.

“Our staff rose to many challenges during the past year and I would like to commend them on all their hard work. I am very confident that the hospital can build on its success in the year ahead.”

TAGS
Share This