§ Mr. DoddsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he is taking to reduce the number of patients who wait on a trolley longer than two hours for a hospital bed once they have been admitted to hospital. [154155]
§ Angela SmithI am very aware of the current pressures on our hospital services, with some patients having to wait on trolleys before they can be admitted. During the time that patients wait on trolleys they receive all of the appropriate medical and nursing care that they need.
The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety is taking forward a regional initiative to improve hospital admissions and patient flows through our hospitals. I am also working to increase capacity at key hospitals and by July 2004 the number of hospital beds will have increased by over 100 compared to the same time last year.