Number of patients on trolleys doubles

THE number of people being treated on trolleys at accident and emergency departments in Cork University Hospital and Kerry General Hospital last month was more than double that for May 2005.

The chairman of the Health Service Executive (Southern Forum), Ciaran Lynch, said yesterday he would question the effectiveness of the Minister for Health’s special Task Force, which has been established to reduce such incidences, when figures clearly showed a dramatic increase.

Statistics published by the Irish Nurses’ Organisation (INO) show that over 20 weekdays recorded in May 2005 there were 187 patients on trolleys at CUH. This works out at an average of 9.35 patients per day. The highest number on any given day that month was 20 on May 4.