INO: Patients detained on trolleys
Activity at the hospital has increased since acute surgical services were transferred last January to the newly expanded acute hospital in Clonmel, Co Tipperary, from Our Lady’s Hospital in Cashel, Co Tipperary, and St Joseph’s Hospital in Clonmel. Last week, hospital management opened 12 beds in the gynaecological ward to care for emergency patients to deal with the increased activity. The INO claimed six of the beds were closed again this week, because not enough staff were available: “While these beds are closed patients are now detained on trolleys in the A&E department.”
But the HSE said budgetary constraints were not to blame: “Independent of the recruitment pause, South Tipperary General Hospital is experiencing difficulties with the recruitment and availability of staff,” it said. And it was due to staffing difficulties that the additional beds were closed as soon as patient numbers reduced, it pointed out.
