Nurses warn of further chaos at hospital
The warning came after the consultant in charge was forced to close the department to all but emergency cases, because 30 patients were lying on trolleys and services had become overstretched.
Dr Stephen Cusack closed the department for just over four hours yesterday, the first time in the hospital’s history that such a decision had been made.
The INO’s industrial relations spokesman at CUH, Patsy Doyle, claimed it was the second time in just a few days that 30 patients had been left on trolleys.
“There were 30 on trolleys again last Thursday and it’s a very small department. Staff can’t handle the workload. It’s a disgrace that people have been turned away,” Ms Doyle said.
The hospital was forced to turn away what it termed ‘walking wounded’ from 8am until 12.15pm.
Ms Doyle, who represents 45 nursing staff at the department, said lack of adequate beds in the main hospital meant that many patients had to lie on trolleys in the A&E department until they could be admitted.
She claimed this would continue to happen even when the new department opens because the real issue wasn’t being addressed.
She also said the problem would be compounded because more and more people would be attracted to the new facilities instead of going to equally adequate A&E departments at other hospitals.
“It will certainly happen again. There is monumental overcrowding. We’re treating people at the A&E but when it warrants admission we can’t give them a bed for six, 12 or 18 hours,” Ms Doyle added.
Dr Cusack described yesterday’s scenes as “very difficult” because there were only 14 cubicles in the department. “The problem is we have limited space. It is getting worse”
Former Minister for Health Micheál Martin laid the last brick at the new A&E department on July 19, 2003 and current minister Mary Harney visited it last January. The delay in opening the facility was caused by a lack of funding for staff, which has since been rectified.
A HSE spokeswoman appealed to patients with minor injuries to consult with their GP before attending the A&E.
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