44% jump in trolley numbers an ‘emergency’
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) pointed to figures it had compiled which showed that, during November, there were 7,124 people on trolleys in wards and emergency departments in 32 hospitals, compared to 4,966 in the same month last year.
The nursing union pointed out that in November 2006 there were 4,671 people on trolleys, 53% fewer than last month, yet in 2006 the situation was declared a national emergency.
INMO general secretary Liam Doran said it could no longer be “pretended” that patients were being properly looked after “in hospitals that have 10, 20, 30 and 40 people on trolleys, in addition to their normal workload”.
His union said the emergency department (ED) overcrowding is a national emergency which requires a sustained, extensive and nationwide response immediately. That response must involve the allocation of resources, in addition to the €25m referred to in the HSE’s Service Plan for 2015.
It called for the re-establishment of the National ED Forum which was stood down when the Special Delivery Unit was set up. The nursing union said the forum had allowed all stakeholders to meet on a monthly basis and agree strategies to address the problem as a matter of absolute urgency.
“Furthermore, the Department of Health and the HSE must acknowledge that staffing levels in these overcrowded emergency departments and wards is now unacceptably low, dangerous and contrary to the best outcomes for patients,” said Mr Doran.
“This must now be declared a national emergency. This must see additional funding being allocated, above and beyond anything being spoken of in the recent Service Plan, so that closed beds can be opened, community supports increased and the additional staff required deployed without delay.”
The HSE was unavailable for comment last night.
