Chaotic conditions frustrate patients and relatives

THERE weren’t too many happy campers at Cork University Hospital’s crowded A&E department yesterday.

“This woman beside me has been waiting for hours with chest pains. My father’s in here with a heart complaint and he’s been on a trolley since yesterday. It’s crazy,” said Anne Marie Lucey, who was waiting with her mother.

Another woman waiting nearby had damaged her achilles tendon.

“I went to my GP and he sent me here. It’s crowded and there’s no facilities for children. For the population we have, this is ridiculous,” she said.

Another woman whose father was being treated inside for a heart attack said the situation hadn’t changed.

“It’s like this every day. When my father came in before, I saw people waiting for hours and sleeping on seats. Everyone comes here because it’s the most modern hospital in the city,” she said.

Over 40 people were occupying almost every available seat in the A&E department, as doctors and nurses rushed to and fro. Up to 26 patients are being kept on trolleys each night because there are no spare beds.

“It’s busier than it’s ever been It’s not the fault of the A&E department. The hospital just doesn’t have the bed capacity to take all the patients,” a nurse said.

She added that the new A&E departmen would be open early next year. “That will be more modern but we don’t know if we’ll have more beds.”

Not all of the patients were discontented.

“I can’t complain because I’ve only arrived,” said Eoin, a student from University College Cork, nursing his swollen ankle with an ice pack. I injured the ankle playing soccer and I’m hoping that it’s just strained. But I imagine the safest thing is to get it x-rayed,” he said.

Other patients said the waiting times were bearable. “I just came in to get my cast removed. I arrived at 1.30pm and got the x-ray at 2.15pm,” said Flor O’Sullivan, from Inishannon.

Joan O’Connell from Cloverhill, Blackrock was also upbeat about her husband’s treatment for a recurring leg injury.

“He went in at 12.30pm and should be out soon. It should be quicker I suppose but you have to wait your turn,” she said.