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.

In contrast, over a 22-day period last month there were 434 patients on trolleys, which worked out at a staggering average of 19.72 per day.

On 14 of those days there were more than 20 people on trolleys and on two days there were 28.

At Kerry General Hospital there were 33 people on trolleys over 21 days in May 2005 — an average of 1.57 per day. However, last month over a 22-day period there were 102 patients, or an average of 4.63 per day.

The Mercy Hospital actually fared far better. A total of 199 patients were recorded on trolleys in its A&E department over 21 days in May 2005, leaving an average of 9.47 per day. This was even slightly higher that the same month last year at Cork University Hospital.

But over 22 days of recording last month the figure dropped to 136 patients and an average per day of 6.18.

Cllr Ciaran Lynch said he was shocked at the increases. “The very first thing one must ask is how the Task Force appointed by Minister Harney is dealing with the situation since the figures have more than doubled since it was established,” Cllr Lynch said.

“The day-to-day operations of A&E departments come down to the goodwill and commitment of staff who are working under extreme stress in the most crisis-driven of situations. The Task Force was set up to alleviate patient problems and staff stress,” Cllr Lynch added.

He said he would be seeking clarification from the Health Service Executive at its next forum meeting on why the number of patients being treated on trolleys had increased so dramatically, especially at Cork University Hospital.